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Free materials can't build social responsibility
By Wendy Anderson
The Home Depot in Campbell has been a nuisance to nearby residents for too long. Home Depot's "social responsibility" endowments, excuses and apologies don't float after nine years.
City resources have been bogged down with complaints and costs associated with the Campbell Home Depot's history of social irresponsibility. Without penalty, the "big box" behind the eight-foot-high soundwall in our backyard continues to violate city ordinances and disturb the peace. Social responsibility includes being a considerate neighbor and respect for rules and limits. In the Home Depot case, the rules are set forth in a Planned Development Permit and City Ordinances/Conditions of Approval.
In 1991, Campbell City officials approved Ordinance 1841, stating that the Home Depot development would not be detrimental to the health, safety or welfare of the neighborhood. I found no health or welfare impact research cited in this decisive document. In fact, Home Depot neighbors are exposed to obnoxious noise at least 15 hours a day, six days a week, and 13 hours on Sundays. We're awakened by crashing and banging at all hours of the night. Prolonged exposure to high noise levels and interrupted sleep are known to be detrimental to human health. Anger-related stress is unhealthy. Sleep deprivation is a form of torture.
City employees have received a multitude of complaints regarding offensive Home Depot operations. On Sept. 20, 2001, the Campbell Community Development Department held an informal meeting to discuss problematic activities behind homes on Harrison Avenue. Eight residents, two Home Depot managers, and two Community Development Department staff members attended this latest of several such meetings. The purpose of this meeting was to prepare for a public hearing before the Planning Commission. The intent was to have a "friendly discussion" focusing on solutions to Home Depot's negative impact on our quality of life. We were asked to provide input for "permanent" changes that would relieve stress on the neighborhood. We covered subjects ranging from parking lot noise, to sound barriers, to dead trees, to blight, to traffic and truck problems.
The premise of friendliness was forsaken before the meeting started, when I heard the Campbell Community Development Director make a subjective remark to a Home Depot manager. She referred to Harrison Avenue residents as "hypersensitive." I was insulted by her insensitive description that seemed to aim at diminishing our legitimate complaints. Then the first item on the director's agenda was to thank the Home Depot managers for donations of various building materials to the community. An introductory expression of appreciation was inappropriate for this meeting held to discuss Home Depot's repeated violation of city ordinances.
After the meeting I was convinced that Home Depot's espoused "social responsibility" contributions have amounted to unfair influence over city staff. Unscrupulous concepts come to mind as I ponder the city's socially irresponsible decision to permit land use for a big box development so close to residential homes. The subsequent failure to enforce ordinances or apply penalties for repeat violations is cause for concern.
Excuses point to the high turnover and learning curves of store managers. However, ignorance is no defense because this is not an education process.
A residential block of Campbell constituents can't compete with the wealth and largess of a huge enterprise like Home Depot, USA. Our old school-side neighborhood was sold out for tax revenues and free building materials. People living on Harrison Avenue near Home Depot are tax paying "members of society" whose health and welfare continues to be compromised. Some of us are depressed along with our property values.
Sad but true, the city of Campbell has not collected all that was bargained for if we tally and deduct the mounting costs associated with years of city staff and Campbell Police Department work on various problems caused by Home Depot in this location. Appropriate monetary penalties for breaking the rules and the adoption of a civilized citywide noise ordinance might improve our situation. Unfortunately, for us, there will be no permanent solutions as long as Home Depot operations take place only 20 yards away from our house.
Campbell resident Wendy Anderson lives on Harrison Avenue behind the parking lot at Home Depot, 480 E. Hamilton Ave.
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Campbell, California
