Sullivan's Scrap Metals Add Buffers, Eyes Upgrades

Mother Nature may hold the key to how quickly Sullivan's Scrap Metals in Hatboro can demolish a neighboring house and expand operations at the Oakdale Avenue business. 

Owner Mike Whalen told Patch that he's planning for work to get underway in either October or November. 

"It's all a question of weather," Whalen said. "I hope it takes only a month."

The Hatboro Borough Council was expected to consider land development plans Monday night, but borough solicitor Christen Pionzio said she was still working on a draft resolution for the governing body's consideration and said it would be ready in time for the council's Oct. 8 committee meeting. 

"They kind of got caught between meetings," Pionzio said, referring to the Sept. 11 planning commission meeting. 

Since Sullivan's Scrap Metals went before the council last month and council members shared noise concerns that residents had mentioned, Whalen said he's taken it upon himself to remedy the situation with buffering. 

Whalen he made a "significant investment" by installing a wrap sound barrier at his business, which is located in Hatboro's heavy industrial district. 

"It prevents sound from going through the trees on the outside," Whalen said. 

Once land development approvals are in hand, Whalen said he intends to demolish a home at 449 Oakdale Ave., on the north end of the property, and add a new building and canopy in its place. Doing so, would help his dozen employees be “more efficient” and “a little more productive,” Whalen said previously.

The plan is to hire one or two more employees in the next year and a half, Whalen said.