Minutes - Council - 04/13/2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Case #6: Consider Application for Motor Vehicle Sales and Repair License; Case of SR Auto Community Development Director Frolik explained Doug and Julie Hill own the property located at 7443 Highway #10 NW. A portion of their property is leased to SR Auto. SR Auto is in the business of motor vehicle sales and repair. The property is zoned B-2 Highway Business and motor vehicle sales and repair is a permitted use. Section 7.02 of City Code requires a City license for motor vehicle sales and repair. Community Development Director Frolik stated subsequent to a car fire at SR Auto, the then Fire/Building Inspector conducted an inspection of the property on December 27, 2002, and noted violations of the Fire Code, Building Code and City Zoning Code. The violations consisted of auto salvage activities, car parts scattered throughout the property (condition of premises), hazardous fluids being improperly stored, and structural hazards in the building where the auto repair activities were being conducted. After a culmination of about 14 months of going back and forth, today the Building Official, Fire Chief, Fire Inspector, and herself went out and inspected the property. The Building Official has determined the building is safe to operate in for the auto repair activities and the Fire Chief has determined that the fire safety code issues have been addressed. Public Works Director Kapler indicated there are no major safety issues on the site, there are some minor things the Code Inspector will follow up with a written report. Community Development Director Frolik stated she has received notice from the county that the business owner is now in compliance with written records of car fluids. However, there is still the issue of a vehicle wrecking yard. There is still the parting out of vehicles beyond repair to make a whole vehicle that could be sold, and this is considered to still be in violation. Also, it would be the recommendation of Community Development staff that this license be denied for 2004, as a vehicle wrecking yard is not a permitted use in any zone. She explained she put a hold on this because of the unresolved issues in these four areas and the culmination into the inspection today before this case was addressed. Mayor Gamec commented the business owner is in violation, rather than the property owner. Doug Hill, 7443 Highway #10 NW, stated Chris Anderson and two environmentalists came to their property in February and stated they had received a complaint and wanted to inspect the property. Julie asked what her rights were and he stated he would return with the police if denied access. Before this they had only one contact with Chris. He sent them a letter stating they have an adversary relationship with the City. Chris stated SR Auto did not have permits to repair the garage. Mr. t-fill stated he told Chris and the environmentalists that they check the property often for batteries, and they looked at them disbelievingly. Julie asked why they were giving her a disbelieving smile whenever she said something about monitoring the property. He and Julie feel the City is giving negative infommtion about them for them to get hostile reactions from the people that come on the property. He stated that apparently if you stand up for your rights with City Council/April 13, 2004 Page 16 of 33