By Angela H. Hill
The Patrick County Planning Commission will meet on Tuesday, Jan. 17, at 6 p.m. in the second-floor conference room of the Patrick County Veterans’ Memorial Building. County residents who wish to weigh in on the issue of salvage operations from neighboring counties storing surplus inventory in Patrick County are encouraged to attend this meeting.
Brenda Quesinberry, chairperson of the Patrick County Planning Commission, said that since October, she has heard from approximately 20 residents regarding the salvage issue. “Daily, or every other day, a new comment comes in,” Quesinberry said. “The No. 1 question is, ‘Is this permitted?’ ”
Based on concerns voiced by county residents this past summer and fall, the Planning Commission proposed at the October 17 Board of Supervisors meeting that the issue be studied.
“We don’t want to interfere with the rights of property owners,” Quesinberry told the board in October. “We don’t feel like anyone should tell us what to do with the land we pay taxes on … but we all also understand we have the privilege to live in Patrick County and should be respectful of our neighbors.”
The Planning Commission has no plans to institute any type of zoning ordinance, Quesinberry explained, but it would like to evaluate the influx of salvage coming from businesses based in other counties.
Once the Planning Commission collects comments and studies the issue, it will carry that research back to county supervisors for feedback. The Board of Supervisors and the Planning Commission can then decide whether to draft an ordinance to regulate incoming salvage.
Quesinberry added that any proposed ordinance would not apply to junkyards; only to commercial salvage businesses. She said the ordinance would also not affect existing salvage yards, which are already complying with state regulations.
“And there will be some exceptions,” she said. “We do have farms in the area and they’re going to have commercial vehicles. We don’t expect anyone to tell the farmer down the road to put his tractors away.” She also said residents who keep old cars for restoration would not be affected.
Quesinberry said residents may share concerns and questions about the salvage issue at the upcoming Planning Commission meeting or by calling her at (276) 952-6364.
