Warwick hires engineering firm to review Rock Lititz noise-abatement plan

Warwick Township hired a consulting engineer Wednesday and heard from residents who said the owners of Rock Lititz have been working with them to resolve noise issues.

At their monthly 7 a.m. meeting, township supervisors approved the appointment of Navarro & Wright Consulting Engineers for sound abatement services.

The firm, based in New Cumberland, will serve the township on an as-needed basis as Rock Lititz develops a plan to correct issues with low-frequency sound at its new 52,000-square-foot studio just north of the borough.

According to Township Manager Dan Zimmerman, Navarro & Wright will review the remediation plan when it is done. He reported that Rock Lititz has at least three consultants working on the project, led by Acentech, a multi-disciplinary acoustical consulting firm with locations in Boston, Philadelphia and Los Angeles.

"Contrary to what we have been hearing, they are not near a final decision on a remedy," Zimmerman said. "They are in the data gathering stage, taking it one step at a time, and testing each stage."

One option being studied by Acentech is to reinforce the building’s interior walls with a 4-inch-thick blanket of concrete.

Several residents living near Rock Lititz confirmed that the company has been working closely with them to find a solution to problems with low-frequency noise coming from the studio when a performer was rehearsing in October.

Harriet Smith, of nearby Moorland Court, said there is an open line of communication with Rock Lititz and that Troy Clair, president and CEO of Clair Global, has been meeting with them personally to ensure that the situation is corrected to their satisfaction.

"They are very diligently working on a solution," said Smith, adding that they are contacted during tests to find out what is working or not working.

Loren Smith confirmed that they have "an open line to Troy," and receive email alerts when testing is being done.

"I want to clarify one thing that has been misreported," said Supervisor David Kramer. "It is not true that Rock Lititz has no legal obligation to correct the situation because there is no sound ordinance."

Zimmerman said the township’s nuisance ordinance covers noise issues.

Kramer said Rock Lititz, a joint project of Clair Global and Tait Towers, will be working with Warwick Township to make sure there is a resolution to the noise problems.

Source: Lancaster Online