City Proposes Consistency In Defining Salvage Yards

The city of Grand Island, Neb., is looking to create some consistency when it comes to regulating salvage yards.

Instead of setting out requirements for junk yards and auto wrecking separately, the city is proposing to call all such operations salvage yards that must have a conditional use permit to operate legally.

"The definition of a salvage yard has been expanded to include all those types of facilities which are currently engaging in salvage and recycling, involving products ranging from junk autos to paper to plastics," City Attorney Charlie Cuypers said in an activity report to the city council. "Also under consideration, depending on comments from the city council and the public, are such additional items as concrete, asphalt, petroleum oils and chemical waste."

The proposed change comes after the council directed staff in May to revamp the city's antiquated codes on salvage yards, which were written before recycling became a major effort.

The outdated regulations came to light when the council was asked to revoke a conditional use permit for Oakleaf Auto Crushing at 1913 Eldorado St. The council tabled the request and decided to rewrite its regulations.

Specifically, the new regulation defines salvage yard as "any building, lot, yard or premise used for the collection, processing, salvage, storage, bailing or shipping of junked vehicles, vehicle parts, paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, metals, rags, scrap materials, junk or any material similar to those listed herein."

Lumping all the different categories together gives the city the ability to "get everyone on equal footing," City Administrator Marlan Ferguson said.

Currently, regulations vary from yard to yard depending on what regulations were in place at the time the business began.

The proposed regulations give the city the authority to monitor the condition and compliance of the salvage yards, including that the operation is screened behind an 8-foot-high fence.

Building Department Director Craig Lewis said regular inspections will occur annually, but additional inspections may be done if problems arise.

A conditional use permit is good indefinitely, Lewis said, and is revoked only if compliance to the regulations isn't reached or maintained.

"Unless we receive some indication that the ordinance as drafted requires further review at a study session," Cuypers said, "it is our intention to have the ordinance on the regular agenda for a city council meeting in August after approval by the Regional Planning Commission." Grand Island (Nebraska) Independent