The World War II air raid siren at The Wherehouse?
Republican photo by Douglas Hook
HOLYOKE — The World War II siren that many residents have become accustomed to hearing every Friday for decades at noon may soon blare again after two City Councilors filed an order to the Ordinance Subcommittee that would amend city ordinances to allow the siren to sound.
During the March 3 City Council meeting, City Councilors Patti Devine and Michael Sullivan filed an order to amend the code of ordinances and add “(11) Sounding or permitting the sounding of any signal from any bell, chime, whistle, or similar device, intended primarily for nonemergency purposes from any place, for more than 3 minutes in any 7 day period.”
The move comes after a recent noise complaint cease and desist was issued to The Wherehouse for its longstanding practice of blaring an air raid siren every Friday at noon for about two minutes.
On Feb. 17, Mayor Joshua Garcia laid out the timeline on his Facebook. On Jan. 13, the city sent a cease-and-desist order to The Wherehouse to stop the weekly siren.
Holyoke Police Department notified the zoning official from of the Building Department of an anonymous complaint received on its SeeClickFix system regarding the air raid siren.
After review, the zoning official said that the air raid siren conflicts with the city of Holyoke Code of Ordinances; Appendix A, Zoning; 6.5 Performance Standards.
Part of the passage reads, “In no district will any use be permitted, which will produce a nuisance or hazard from fire or explosion, toxic or corrosive fumes, gas, smoke, odors, obnoxious dust or vapor, harmful radioactivity, offensive noise or vibration, flashes, objectionable effluent or electrical interference, which may affect or impair the normal use and peaceful enjoyment of any property, structure or dwelling in the neighborhood. All industrial uses and uses accessory thereto shall be subject to the following performance standards and procedures. Any other use, existing or proposed, which the Building Commissioner or the Board of Appeals adjudges to be violating or likely to violate these standards shall also be subject thereto.”
Garcia stated that the city solicitor’s office is currently evaluating the opinion of the zoning official to weigh in and reaffirm the decision.
Assuming it stands, there are two paths potentially identified to be able to navigate this concern. The first is for the City Council to amend the ordinance.
Garcia said he is also exploring whether this concern can be resolved by obtaining a noise permit from the Holyoke Police Department.
“Both of these options are paths to have the practice in compliance. There is also the option of an appeals process through the local Zoning Board of Appeals that the owner can pursue,” Garcia stated. “I have always shared with the broader public that when unique quality-of-life sets of circumstances appear that create a divide in people’s perspective on an issue, that my commitment to the public is enforcement of our local laws and less about how I personally feel on an issue or how loudly people can be to apply public pressure.”
There is currently no date for the ordinance subcommittee yet, but Reminder Publishing will continue to monitor the situation and update the readers when there is a resolution.
Although a formal noise complaint was submitted and other residents have agreed with it, on Feb. 20 and Feb. 27, vehicles gathered in The Wherehouse parking lot to honk their horns for two minutes as a replacement for the WWll air raid siren.
