County sends junkyard law back to planning commission
By LARRY HILLIARD Ledger Staff Writer larry@gaffneyledger.com

After less than six months on the books, the county's controversial junkyard ordinance is back where it got its start - at the Cherokee County Planning Commission.

The planning commission will review the impact the ordinance will have on existing junkyards and report its findings to Cherokee County Council. More specifically, the planning commission will weigh if the ordinance's fencing requirement would create a financial hardship.

In November, council unanimously passed final reading of an ordinance that requires junkyard owners within two years to erect an 8-foot fence on the portion of their property that fronts public rights-of-way. The ordinance also stipulates that junkyard owners have five years to extend the fence around the entire perimeter of their property.

At a council meeting March 3, Billy Tessner of Al's Auto Service in Blacksburg told council it will cost him $100,000 to comply with the fencing provision of the ordinance.

Tessner also argued his business sells recyclable parts and shouldn't be classified as a junkyard.

Linda Tessner, who said she has operated Al's Auto Service for 35 years, said her business should be exempt from the local ordinance because of the state's grandfather clause.

She added she didn't oppose the ordinance earlier because she was assured by councilman James Batchler that her business would fall under the grandfather clause.

Several council members, including Bailey Humphries, reassured the Tessners that council would review the ordinance.

The ordinance became a priority last summer for councilman Charles Mathis, who expressed concern that junkyards were popping up adjacent to residential communities in his district. Mathis didn't speak at the meeting.

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