Council defers approval of junkyard and recycling-transfer special exceptions amid enforcement concerns

Councilmembers deferred consideration of three quasi-judicial land-use requests on Nov. 19 that would have allowed a junkyard and a recycling-and-transfer facility at 175 Southwest 14th Avenue.

Planning staff and the applicant—s attorney described a remodeled site plan with 23 parking spaces, an 8-foot masonry perimeter wall, and conditions that would limit the sorting and recycling to copper, aluminum, brass, appliance parts and vehicles. The draft development order proposed an 18-month timeline for the applicant to obtain a certificate of use and required compliance with landscaping and lighting codes. Staff recommended approval with the conditions.

Councilmembers pressed staff about enforcement, noting a pattern of vehicles parked in the right-of-way and material stacked above wall height at multiple sites owned by the same operator. Vice Mayor Bailey and others questioned whether fines have been effective and whether tying conditions to the development order provides "teeth" to revoke approvals for repeat violations. Staff said the city could pursue revocation of the certificate of use if conditions are not satisfied; code-enforcement penalties remain a parallel track.

The applicant asked for time to work through conditions; Council voted to defer all three items to a January meeting to allow additional conversations and to give staff time to ensure enforcement mechanisms and code changes (including a forthcoming certificate-of-use ordinance) are in place.

What—s next: Staff and the applicant will return with revised plans and any recommended code modifications; council indicated it wants clearer enforcement language tying compliance to the development order before final votes.