Katherine Shamel and Carol Egan have a common goal in Chichester: quiet the noise coming from a neighbor’s noisy construction business – which the town say he’s been running illegally since he split his land and no longer lives on his property
Across the street from their house, Mike Hague, who owns NH Groundscapes at 73 King Road, is building a new house and says he wants to be a good neighbor. By all accounts, things have quieted down lately.
On Tuesday night, Shamel and Egan had planned to make some noise, again complaining that Hague had been operating his business with no permit and no restrictions.
Hague, however, was a no-show for the meeting, leaving Egan worried, Shamel mad and nothing resolved. The meeting was postponed unt il June 15, at which time, the women fear, Hague will apply and receive a business permit for that area.
Neighbors say it’s been quieter since the issue was raised at an April Select Board meeting. Shamel, though, worries that even with restrictions monitored by the town, Hague’s business hours will remain long and the noise will continue into the summer.
“He gets away with murder and no one cares, and good for him that he can get away with this,” Shamel said sarcastically. “He’s done it and he plans to continue running a business.”
Businesses are allowed in the town’s residential zone as long as the owner lives on the property.
Shamel and Egan said beeping trucks, roaring engines, waves of dust and a machine that Shamel insists, “sounds like an earthquake” ruined summer days in their backyards. Windows, they both said, oftentimes had to remain shut in the warm weather to keep the noise out.
Shamel has not filtered her anger since coming forward at an April Select Board meeting.
“We have called in numerous times to inquire as to how they are allowed to operate such a disruptive business in a residential neighborhood,” Shamel told the board. “We welcome anyone from the town to come and sit on our back deck with us and try to enjoy it.”
Hague could not be reached for comment. In a prior Monitor story, he said he’s rightfully building two houses on that spot.
Kristy Willey, Chichester’s administrative assistant, said Hague had been open for business illegally in recent years, unbeknownst to town officials, and he now must now obtain the proper permits.
“While he was living there he started a landscaping business which grew over time,” Willey said in an email to the Monitor. “The town was not aware of this.”
Two of his closest neighbors hope the permit will afford them a little peace and quiet.
“He plans on applying for a home occupation, which is the only way to run a business in the residential area,” Willey said. “Until then, the building inspector and I told him he cannot utilize his garage for business purposes.”