Hauppauge residents sound off about industrial park noise, seek help from Smithtown

Smithtown officials say they will investigate ongoing complaints about noise pollution coming from the formerly named Hauppauge Industrial Park — more specifically, a humming sound that some nearby residents say has disrupted their lives.

Those living near the complex, now known as the Long Island Innovation Park at Hauppauge, have asked the town to step in and help reduce what they say is constant noise emanating from it. The sounds have interrupted their sleep and disturbed them during the day, they said.

An online petition presented to the Smithtown Town Board on Tuesday asked the board “to take immediate action to investigate the source of this noise pollution and implement effective solutions.” 

Nicole Garguilo, a town spokeswoman, said Wednesday the town did investigate a complaint regarding noise and issued a summons Jan. 26.

A copy of the summons, provided Thursday to Newsday by the town attorney’s office via a Freedom of Information Law request, showed the violation was issued to Contract Pharmacal Corp. at its 160 Commerce Dr. building for noise prohibitions — specifically, for allowing “a mechanical noise disturbance to be made."

Contract Pharmacal Corp. is a pharmaceutical company inside the complex. The company did not return phone calls requesting comment. 

'Constantly, 24 hours a day'

Kristen Mahon, of Hauppauge, said she started the petition presented to the board Tuesday. She and other residents told Newsday the noise has been coming from Contract Pharmacal.

Mahon and her husband, John, have been living near the complex for roughly two years. Kristen, who works in public relations, usually works from home. She said the noise — a mechanical humming sound, according to recordings she provided to Newsday — has reached the point where she has trouble sleeping and difficulty working.

“That beeping, constantly, 24 hours a day, over the TV, over a white noise machine, you hear it,” she said.

“Some days, it’s crazy bad," her husband said. "If the wind is blowing, sometimes when the weather is different or there’s bad wind, it’s really bad.”

John Mahon urged the board to consider code changes to “restore peace to what is supposed to be a wonderful place to live.”

“We understand normal noise during commercial hours, but this is no longer reasonable,” he said.

Scott Munro, who lives near the complex and is also vice chairman of the Hauppauge Fire Department, said Tuesday that residents understand the importance of the industrial park but asked the board to take action for the benefit of the families who live nearby.

“While [the sound] is more subtle at first, it becomes more consistent and it makes it harder for families to rest and enjoy their homes,” Munro said, adding the businesses operating at the park “need to do a better job in upholding their end of the relationship as neighbors.”

As he stood in the industrial park Thursday with audible humming in the background, Munro said that in years past the fire department has provided a forum for residents frustrated with noise issues at the complex. 

Town pledges to follow up

Mark Grossman, a spokesman for the Hauppauge Industrial Agency-LI, said in an interview Thursday that the agency serves only as an advocate for the complex and does not manage or maintain any of the properties or buildings in it. He said the noise issue is a town matter and directed comment to the Town of Smithtown.

Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim told residents at the meeting the town is working to address the situation. Staff from the town’s department of public safety had visited the industrial park to look into it.

“We’re aware of the situation and we’re going to do our best to pinpoint exactly what’s going on and address it,” Wehrheim said.

Garguilo, the town spokeswoman, declined to provide more specifics because the matter is in court.

“That said, we continue to work closely with our partners at HIA-LI and within the Long Island Innovation Park at Hauppauge to explore practical solutions that balance economic activity with the quality of life our nearby residents deserve,” she said.