Politics & Government

Councilman Looks to 'Control Leaf Blower Noise'

Stefan Armington wants to work with commercial gardeners and landscapers to regulate the use of leaf blowers in mornings and over weekends.

Morristown Councilman Stefan Armington and Councilwoman Rebecca Feldman have agreed to look at a reasonable set of policies to regulate noise from leaf blowers.

"Leaf blowers ... are disturbing to residents who live nearby," Armington said, and he asked if anyone on the council or in the administration wanted to help "develop regulations to better manage them."

Armington said he wanted to regulate the use of high capacity leaf blowers, which are typically used as a backpack unit with a hose. These are mostly in use by commercial landscapers, but the noise can be deafening.

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Morristown does have a noise ordinance, but it does not specifically speak to leaf blowers or to particular decibel levels.

"I have no interest in banning leaf blowers by any means," Armington said, only to "better control leaf blower noise."

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Feldman offered to work with him. "It's been a longstanding issue," she said, and one that will become more important as the newly formed Shade Tree Commission works to "rebuild the urban canopy."

Armington said he knows of landscapers and leaf blower manufacturers who have created best practices recommendations for interacting with suburban communities, and he intends to reach out to them and to individual businesses who service the area.


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