Residents of Brady Avenue again challenged a plan by the Salem Animal Rescue League to construct a new animal shelter in their neighborhood.

Raising concerns over traffic, noise, animal waste and odor, potential neighbors of the 15,000-square-foot shelter lined up at the Tuesday, June 24, Planning Board meeting to express their reservations about a project that is still in the conceptual phase.

Shelter architect Steve Jensen presented figures comparing the proposed building to other large structures in the area in a defense against criticisms over the proposed size and layout of the shelter.

Terry Perrino, of 70 Brady Ave., remained unconvinced and challenged Jensen’s figures while voicing concerns that the presence of the shelter would lower the value of his property.

“I’m still opposed,” he told the board. “I still don’t think they should have an animal rescue league on Brady.”

Jensen, who has designed shelters across the country, including one in Methuen, Mass., and another in Brockton, Mass., attempted to address the issues previously raised by neighbors and abutters at the April 21 board meeting, but failed to quell concerns from residents.

Changes to the original concept made by Jensen since the April meeting included adding a row of evergreens or shrubs along the property lines, adding fence to the dog play area and using a landscape finish for the proposed retaining walls for aesthetic purposes.

According to Jensen, more work needed to be done.

“We’re going to have to rescale (the shelter),” he said. “We’ll be in front of the board again.”

David Fredrickson, of 16 Brady Ave., called for a study of the impact of new traffic and criticized SARL for not yet applying for a permit for their proposed septic system and to build a driveway on a state road.

“I’m against this. It doesn’t fit,” he said. “We’ve been a quiet neighborhood and we haven’t asked much from the town. This is something the town could do for us, to preserve the tranquility that we now possess.”

SARL has been working with the town for more than six months to locate a site on which to build a new shelter, according planning director Ross Moldoff. The location on Brady Avenue was received from a benefactor and is one of several sites explored by the animal rescue league.

According to Valorie Hayes, director of marketing and media relations for SARL, the organization is currently operating out of three modular shelters. Five or six years ago, SARL had been informed that the land they operated on would be flooded and reclaimed for wetland use by the state and town, she said. At that point, the 15-year-old organization began searching for a new location.

Hayes called the previous meeting before the board “amicable.”

“Some of the neighbors expressed concerns. Everything was very amicable.

People that know us appreciate the work that we do,” she said. “I hope we’re able to address all the concerns to our abutters. SARL has always been a good neighbor.”