By HOLLY GASKILL
The Wells County Commissioners voted 3-0 this week not to rezone a junk yard west of Uniondale, a move recommended by the Area Plan Commission.
The property located at County Road 600N east of 200W had historically been a junk yard but that use was grandfathered in as it preceded zoning.
Petitioner Justin Miller had requested the county to approve the salvage yard as a permanent fixture. Miller was not present for the commissioners’ meeting.
Area Plan Commission Executive Director Mike Lautzenheiser said the APC had held a public hearing regarding the request, after which the board unanimously agreed to send a “do not pass” recommendation to the commissioners. During the commissioners’ Tuesday meeting, Lautzenheiser passed on that recommendation that they vote in agreement with the APC’s decision.
Lautzenheiser explained this specific decision doesn’t require the property to be changed but prevents anything being added to the property except what’s permissible under its current I-1 and I-2 (industrial) zoning.
“It’s a decommissioned junk yard and it’s not been active,” Lautzenheiser said. “So it’s grandfathered status. There is some stuff out there that really needs to get cleaned up, but in regards to the actual process, it will report as a permitted use or green color grading system.”
holly@news-banner.com
