§ 38-83. General regulations.

(a)

All junkyards which are established, modified, or expanded from and after the effective date of the ordinance from which this article derives, and that have been issued a current valid permit to establish, operate or maintain a junkyard, as provided in this article, shall meet the following standards:

(1)

Be situated on one contiguous parcel that is undivided by any public road right-of-way.

(2)

Have a minimum setback to the fence from front property lines, excluding a road right-of-way of at least 20 feet, and from the side and rear property lines, excluding a road right-of-way, of at least 10 feet.

(3)

Not be located closer than 500 feet to either a preexisting residence, church, school, day care center, nursing home, skilled health care facility, hospital, public buildings, or public recreation facilities.

(4)

Be screened as provided herein, so as to not be visible from any residence (except a residence used in conjunction with the junkyard) or from the main-traveled way of any public road, at any season of the year, and

(5)

At a minimum, the junkyard shall be entirely surrounded by an opaque fence (including gates) at least eight feet in height, or by either a woven or welded wire (14 gauge minimum) or chain link fence a minimum of six feet in height (installed with opaque screening material) and with vegetation that provides a continuous all-seasons opaque screen at least eight feet in height within five years of planting or setting such vegetation. The fence shall remain in good repair. The fence and vegetation shall surround the minimum area necessary for the junkyard to not be visible. Vegetation not less than four feet in height at the time of planting shall be planted on the outbound side of the fence, contiguous to, and not more than 12 feet from the fence. Vegetation that serves as screening shall be planted at intervals evenly spaced and in close proximity to each other so that a continuous, unbroken hedgerow, without gaps or open spaces, will exist to a height of at least eight feet along the length of the fence surrounding the junkyard or automobile graveyard. The vegetation shall be maintained as a continuous, unbroken hedgerow for so long as the property is used as a junkyard. Existing vegetation may be approved if it adequately meets the purposes of this article.

(6)

All operations, equipment, junk and/or inoperable motor vehicles shall be kept within the confines of the fence at all times unless in motion by transport to or from the site.

(7)

All junkyards shall be maintained to protect the public from health nuisances and safety hazards.

(b)

All junkyards in existence as of August 25, 2005, which wish to expand, change, or modify in any way, either as to number of cars, appliances, amount of junk materials, or area used as a junkyard, shall be subject to all fencing and screening requirements of this chapter. There will be an exception to fencing and screening requirements for grandfathered junkyards if the existing screening is adequate.

(Ord. No. O-2006-01, § 3, 3-16-06)