Dismantling yard gets green light to build

A dismantling yard which was denied a septic tank last week received a green light to build on Highway 50 East in what some call the gateway to Carson City.

Pick-n-Pull Dismantling Yard of Sparks should have a new yard built on the roughly 13-acre site near the Lyon County line by summer 2000, said co-owner Dick Mills. The dismantling yard was approved Wednesday by Carson City's Regional Planning Commission.

Commissioners had to decide if the development would become an eyesore in an area that welcomes visitors to Carson City or if the economic benefit of developing the area outweighed the eyesore potential.

Operation within the dismantling yard includes the crushing of cars for recycling, but customers also pull parts from old cars to fix their own. Cars at the Sparks location at times are stacked up to 16-feet, said project engineer Glen Martel of Lumos and Associates, and the proposed site in Carson would have an 8-foot fence. The site lies on an incline that raises 50 feet from the front of the lot to the back, making it visible to Highway 50 East. Officials and some residents worry that there would not be enough screening to diminish the view of the dismantling yard.

Community Development has asked for a simulated layout of the landscaping plan and its ability to shield the site from Highway 50 traffic before approval of the development will be complete.

Martel and Lumos' Director of Planning Carol Dotson showed plans of a 100-car parking lot with landscaping and have spruced up the proposed metal building to be more aesthetically pleasing, although development staff would like to see the roughly 10,600-square-foot building improved even more. Landscaping is also planned around the metal, 8-foot fence to help shield the site.

City supervisors denied Pick-n-Pull's request for a septic system, but city staff worked out a temporary solution to the problem by approving a holding tank until the city's sewer line is extended to the area. The site has an existing well for water, and electricity will be run underground.

Mills estimated the yard would employ up to 30 people and would bring the city about $200,000 a year in sales taxes. Cars come to the business from towing companies, abatements, charities and the public, among other sources.

"This will offer a source of cheap parts for people who need inexpensive parts to fix their cars," Mills said.

Pick-n-Pull also has a cash-for-junk-cars program and allows fire departments to use vehicles for training purposes, Mills said.

Cars at the site are stored in rows and all fluids are drained from them and removed from the site. Most cars at the site usually remain for about 60 days before being crushed by the on-site crusher and removed for recycling.