City scraps zoning request from recycling firm|[06/05/07]

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, June 5, 2007

The operator of Keyes Recycling must start from scratch to seek city approval for a car-crushing scrap yard near Washington Street, Vicksburg officials determined Monday.

Mayor Laurence Leyens informed Robert Keyes that he had jumped the gun by seeking board approval before submitting a specific site plan information to the city.

A room full of residents and members of two area churches who came to voice their opposition were told their objections will have to wait until Keyes takes his proposal through the proper channels.

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Keyes submitted an application to the City of Vicksburg Board of Zoning Appeals May 2, but was denied because no site plan was attached. The board delayed an earlier decision in February for the same reason, requesting more details from Keyes.

&#8220There was no information on what he was going to do, so he was denied the original application,” said Zoning Administrator Dalton McCarty.

Lacking the same information, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen tabled Keyes’ appeal Monday.

&#8220I feel like an appeal hearing is out of order,” Leyens said.

City Attorney Nancy Thomas said the city board’s involvement is only necessary after a site plan review is completed.

&#8220Without knowing the perimeters, the board is unable to state under what conditions,” it can be developed, she said.

But, regardless of community dissent, Leyens said the city doesn’t have the authority to stop Keyes from making the site along Smith Hill Road a scrap yard.

&#8220Zoning allows for junkyards – the precedents are in place, and we have to follow city ordinances,” he said. &#8220We have no legal basis on which to deny it. What we need to know is how they’re going to put the facility in and the traffic impact.”

Residents said an auto crusher Keyes plans will add noise and an expanded operation will increase traffic along residential roads.

Clark Berry, Jr., who lives across Washington Street from Keyes’ 82-acre tract, said he will leave if Keyes moves ahead with his plan for a scrap metal yard.

&#8220I hope to the Lord he doesn’t make it here,” he said. &#8220It’s going to be hard finding me another place to put my trailer.”

Berry said he is not bothered by an existing scrap metal yard, Vicksburg Recycling, situated between his home and the tract Keyes plans to develop. The Vicksburg Recycling lot, which is separated from Washington Street by a low fence, was previously owned by the Keyes family.

Berry fears Keyes’ facility and auto crusher will be much noisier and operate at all hours of the day.

Retired law enforcement officer Bob Hollingsworth lives across Washington Street, far enough away from the junkyards that he is not bothered by noise. But he said the businesses do nothing to beautify his corner of town.

&#8220It’s a fact that coming in and out of the area, it’s an eyesore,” he said.

At Monday’s meeting, Keyes pointed out that piles of metal junk in the Vicksburg Recycling lot were visible over the wooden fence intended to screen them from the street.

Leyens replied that his complaint wasn’t relevant to the project being discussed.

Despite opposition to Keyes’ plan for an auto crusher, not everyone is worried.

Sherman Evans, who has worked for two years hauling scrap from Hermanville, said competition between the neighboring yards could help his business.

Barbara Voyles, manager of Vicksburg Recycling, said she isn’t overly concerned about Keyes or his competition. &#8220There’s enough scrap in Vicksburg for everyone,” she said.