Junkyard ordinance gets final OK

Without debate, Cherokee County Council on Monday unanimously passed final reading of an ordinance that will require junkyard owners to erect an 8-foot fence on the portion of their property that fronts public rights-of-way.

Junkyard owners would have two years to erect frontage fences and an additional three years (5 years total) to erect a fence around the entire perimeter of the property.

But junkyard owners apparently won't have to dig into their pockets to pay a permit fee. Council had considered making junkyard owners pay a $50 annual permit fee, but waived it at a recent workshop after concerns it would create a financial hardship.

Council chairman Hoke Parris supported the ordinance with reservations.

"There are some things I still don't like in it," he said.

The ordinance has become a priority for Cherokee County Councilman Charles Mathis, who expressed concern that junkyards were popping up adjacent to residential communities in his district.

At its meeting July 2, council approved a moratorium on new junkyards and first reading of a proposed ordinance that was drafted by county attorney Joe Mathis.

Joe Mathis told council that police powers gave it authority to approve an ordinance that's considered for the public welfare.

The proposed ordinance stipulates that new junkyards must be located on a continuous parcel, have a minimum front lot line of 100 feet on public rights-of-way. New junkyards would also have to be at least 500 feet from a single residence and 1,000 feet from 10 or more contiguous residences.

Recycling centers and scrap metal processors would be exempt from the ordinance. Service stations are exempt from portions of the ordinance.