West Orange Residents Accuse Restaurant of Noise Pollution

WEST ORANGE, NJ – During the September 24 West Orange Town Council meeting, the co-owner of the Llewelyn Parq Grill & Bar, Anthony Sharperson, spoke about the efforts they’ve made to reduce noise since a few residents had talked about sounds carrying to their properties. There is a patio in Llewelyn Parq's  backyard.

Sharperson stated, “We’ve received a few noise ordinance complaints, some summonses, which have been overturned. Most recently, we received one last Friday at 6 p.m. We made ourselves aware of what rules, and we've self-monitored.” He reported that they added a vestibule to limit any noise from anyone entering the building or exiting.

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He shared that they limit live music to midnight on the weekends and 11:00 p.m. during the week, and have a DJ once during the week for karaoke. He said that they are frustrated about the summons they received on Friday. “It just feels like even all the measures that we're taking is not going to appease our one or two neighbors who have issues and concerns with us.” Sharperson stated, “We've tried to be neighborly since we've been in business for the last two years. We want to be part of the community, and that's why we named the restaurant Llewelyn Parq. I just wanted to introduce myself and let you know that I'm available to talk and meet anytime.”

The executive chef, Lori Montague, also noted that the restaurant has hired security and has implemented quieting measures, but she feels like they are being harassed because the neighbors call the police often.
A neighbor who didn’t provide her name spoke about living near the restaurant. “I want to address this stress and concern many of us feel regarding public consumption of alcohol and cannabis, which directly is impacting our daily lives. Just imagine walking to the neighborhood and encountering these people, which is not right for us or for the children.” She continued, “We're struggling a lot with all this noise coming from them. You just can't imagine. It's not just us. There's a lot of neighbors who can hear how bad it gets. It's not just that, the public is disturbed by the their patrons, and even the traffic gets bad.”

A gentleman who didn’t give his name told attendees about visiting someone in the Llewellyn Parq Grill & Bar neighborhood. "This is someone really needs help. She's studying in college, unable to study [due to the noise]. I'm the witness. I could not believe what was going on, and the rooms were actually vibrating.” He added, “That is no way to live. We went to the Health Department, because it should not have been going on. The people have no respect for others.”

Another woman gave an emotional plea for help. “All I want to say is that I know it’s a crime to falsely accuse someone, and we have proof of everything that we've been through. This bar next to us is taking over. Our health is something that you cannot take.” She added, “We just want to go to sleep at night without hearing their music. The [noise is]  trembling in our houses. We have their customers coming, defecating outside a house, pooping or peeing at our house, and we cannot take this anymore.”

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Council Member Asmeret Ghebremicael noted that the township attorney directed the council not to speak about the Llewelyn Parq Grill & Bar situation because the restaurant will be appearing in court for their summonses.  She stated that she and the council are in favor of Ordinance 2871-24 prohibiting drinking alcohol and smoking cannabis in public, which then passed unanimously.

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