Because of the nature and character of their operations, automobile wrecking and salvage yards, junkyards and similar uses of land can have a decidedly detrimental effect upon surrounding properties. Salvage and wrecking yards tend to create problems of noise, dust, traffic and health hazards; and may adversely affect property values by their general appearance. The following standards shall be used as a guide in evaluating whether proposed land uses, such as those outlined herein, will have properly minimized their objectionable characteristics.
(A) Licensing. All salvage yards must be licensed. An application to establish a salvage yard in the city shall be filed with the Planning Commission and approved by the Board of Zoning Adjustment. For the purpose of this chapter, junkyards, automobile wrecking yards and similar operations shall be known as “salvage yards”.
(B) Location. No salvage yard shall be permitted closer than 500 feet from any established residential district, unless in existence prior to the adoption of this chapter. The storage of three or more unlicensed abandoned vehicles and salvaged vehicles must be in an approved and licensed salvage yard. All abandoned and junked motor vehicles and other similar large salvage articles that can be seen from any public right-of-way shall be moved to a licensed salvage yard within one year of the effective date of this chapter.
(C) Screening. All outdoor storage in salvage yards shall be conducted entirely within an enclosed fence or wall, except the driveway area. The fence or wall shall be seven feet in height and appropriately screened to prohibit the visibility of the salvage material. Storage outside or above such fence or wall is expressly prohibited. Any fence or wall erected for screening purposes shall comply with §§ 158.210 through 158.228.
(D) Ingress and egress. The maximum number of vehicular access driveways for salvage yards having frontage on a state or federal highway shall be as regulated by the State of Kentucky, Department of Transportation. The maximum number of vehicular access driveways for salvage yards having frontage on a city street shall be regulated by the City Council with recommendations from the Planning Commission.
(Ord. 11-85, passed 12-3-1985) Penalty, see § 158.999