Residents press Citrus County for review of concrete‑plant operations amid early‑morning noise complaints

Several Citrus County residents used the public‑comment period July 14 to press the board for action over recurring, high‑level noise from a nearby concrete plant and related land‑use compatibility concerns.

Orlando Lopez told commissioners the industrial operation produces "industrial level noise" five days a week starting early in the morning and urged a formal compatibility and buffering review because he said code enforcement’s conclusion of "compliance" did not address trail corridor compatibility and neighborhood impacts. Robert Schultz said his own overnight monitoring recorded peaks as loud as "93 decibels" at 3:10 a.m., and he said prior county sound checks did not capture peak events.

Speakers asked whether the county could impose operational hour limits, perform more targeted and repeated noise monitoring, and verify whether buffering or permit conditions require remediation. Commissioners and staff reported multiple site visits by code enforcement at varied hours; staff said their equipment had not registered violations on the patrols described but agreed to expand monitoring and report back. Commissioner Jeff Kennard specifically asked whether the county could prohibit certain heavy‑vehicle operations during overnight hours; staff said they would look into options.

Several commenters also framed the issue in a broader land‑use context, saying that older residential plats predate nearby industrial lots and that the county should review whether historic approvals remain compatible with current neighborhood patterns.

The board did not take immediate regulatory action at the meeting; commissioners asked staff to return with more information, including a record of enforcement visits and any options for restricting hours or imposing additional buffering or operational conditions.