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By Steve Lord
Aurora Beacon-News
Published: Feb 10, 2023 at 2:14 pm
Officials with the Hello Fresh prepared food delivery company on Aurora’s far West Side said this week they will take steps to address neighbors’ complaints.
The company, which came to Aurora as Factor 75 in 2020 and was purchased by Hello Fresh shortly afterward, has been criticized by neighbors for what they say is noise, air and light pollution, particularly in the Greenfield subdivision directly to the south of its location at Indian Trail and Orchard Road.
This week, company officials reported to the Aurora City Council they have taken some steps, and will take more, to address the issues.
“We have heard the concerns raised about how our operation is impacting that neighborhood in regard to noise, odor, lights and vibrations,” said John Childs, a regional director for Hello Fresh. “Factor today is in compliance with city zoning regulations. That being said, we know there is more we can do to be a good neighbor.”
City officials said this week they first fielded complaints about Hello Fresh in May 2021, and have had meetings with neighbors and company officials since then.
But residents said little has been done, and some of the problems continue. Some of them have come to City Council meetings to air their complaints.
Last month, Julia Hirschberg said that since the city changed the zoning to allow Factor 75 to move in, her house “has become unlivable.”
She said her house shakes due to idling refrigerator trucks, and high levels of diesel exhaust from the trucks “are drawn into my house constantly.”
She said she and her grandson, who lives with her, have experienced headaches, respiratory issues, burning eyes and throats, dizziness and fatigue.
She said that when she contacted the company, “their response is to deny what I’m experiencing.”
Another area resident said she and her children have experienced the same kind of problems.
“It saddens me that the city does not care about the children living on this block,” she said.
This week, Childs and other officials from Hello Fresh said they have made many changes in response to the complaints.
Officials said they have started a no-truck-idling policy, and have moved any truck traffic away from the south alley to keep it away from residences there. While trucks do pull in and out of the southeast dock, officials said they typically stop dock activities by 9 p.m. Also, the company has hired a 24-hour patrol to make sure the truck regulations are enforced.
A company statement said that Hello Fresh will plant additional trees and additional fencing on the berm between the company and residents.
While the company is awaiting the results of a noise study it has a third-party company doing, Childs said the company can go ahead with the additional trees and fencing.
“We don’t have to wait for the results to know this we can do,” he said.
As for the odor, officials said the smell of food is going to happen, because the company is running a large commercial kitchen. But officials said it is cleaning its hood and ventilation system every two weeks, which they said exceeds what any restaurant does.
“The company will also be installing additional filtration devices for all grilling exhaust hoods,” the company statement said. “This is scheduled to be complete in the spring of 2023.”
Company officials also said they are repositioning the angle of their light fixtures and are installing new fixtures that project the light downward.
Childs said the company will come back before the City Council in 45 days to report on the “impact of what we’ve done.”
“It doesn’t end with the 45-day check in,” he said. “We will continue to monitor all the complaints that have been raised. We will continue to be a good member of the Aurora community.”
Some residents still are not convinced. Sandra Gonzalez, a nearby resident, said after hearing Hello Fresh and Factor 75 she “appreciated” what they said they would do.
“But many of the issues have yet to be resolved,” she said.
She said what many of the residents have said, that the city could respond and communicate to them better in regard to the issues.
“Include your community members in your conversations,” she said.
Alex Alexandrou, the city’s chief management officer, pointed out that Factor 75 and Hello Fresh have been in the city for only about two years, and much of that has been spent in building out the space.
He said he is “proud” of the collaboration between the city and the company.
“The goal is to mitigate concerns of the neighbors in a reasonable and realistic manner,” he said.