At the Waltham City Council's June 5 special meeting on a comprehensive zoning study, resident Doreen Frigo asked the council to reconsider industrial businesses sited in or next to neighborhoods, citing an excavation company at River Street and Willow.

Frigo said the operation produces "so much dust and, huge massive dump trucks going down River Street disturbing the peace." She told the council she believed the building department had closed the operation about 10 years ago and that an appeal to the zoning board led to approval because a spur had existed there historically. "I haven't seen the record of what went down," she said, urging the council to re-examine industrial uses in neighborhood locations.

Why it matters: industrial activity in residential areas can cause noise, dust, traffic and quality-of-life concerns for nearby residents. Frigo asked the council and consultants conducting the zoning study to consider ordinance or zoning changes that would limit or better regulate such uses near homes and restaurants.

The hearing was a public-input event; no enforcement action or zoning amendment was taken at the meeting. Council President John McLaughlin presided and asked citizens to sign in for testimony; the council indicated it would pass written comments to consultants for consideration.