Company wants salvage yard in city

Last month, Mosier Industrial Services, which also owns the Crowell-Collier Building, applied for a zoning change from general manufacturing to heavy manufacturing in order to create a salvage yard at the location. Even if the rezoning is approved, the company would need to complete several other steps before it could open a salvage yard.

Bryan Heck, the city’s planning and zoning administrator, is recommending approval of the rezoning application, but he said that does not mean a salvage yard would be approved.

Mosier’s application was unanimously denied by the city planning board at its meeting on May 13 after business owners in the area expressed concerns about how it would affect the neighborhood.

In order to overturn the planning board’s recommendation, the rezoning must pass by a super majority vote of at least four of five commissioners in favor of the application.

If approved by city commission, Mosier must seek a conditional use permit and a variance from the board of zoning appeals because the salvage yard will be located within 1,000 feet of a residential zoning area. If that’s approved, the company also must receive a license from the salvage yard review board.

The application states the business, based in Crestline, believes the 16.5-acre location would be a successful one for a salvage yard.

The applicant did not attend the meeting in May, and no one spoke in support. Heck said the applicant was planning to attend tonight’s public hearing.

Russell Watts, project manager for Mosier Industrial Services, did not return a message seeking comment.

Thomas Tapes president Dave Simonton, A&E Powder Coating and Valco Industries owner Ed Leventhal and Randy Kapp of Kapp Construction — all nearby business owners — spoke against the rezoning amid worries of vandalism, graffiti and changes to the neighborhood.

In March, the city recently sent Mosier Industrial Services a cease-and-desist letter asking the company to stop using the site as a salvage yard, which had crushed cars “clearly visible on the property,” without a license.

The letter states unlawful operation of a salvage yard is a third-degree misdemeanor. Mosier quickly came into compliance, removing the crushed cars from the property.

After the rezoning hearing, the commission will hear a first reading of an ordinance but might not vote on it until its July 9 meeting.