PORT ORCHARD — Colin Young, known for his collection of old cars and related junk, has been ordered to clean up his residential property in the Spirit Ridge neighborhood of Central Kitsap and to remove junk cars from his mother's property on Big Valley Road in North Kitsap.
The two orders from Kitsap County's "violations hearing examiner" confirm that a nuisance exists on both properties. If Young does not complete the cleanup himself, Kitsap County will proceed with abatement proceedings, according to Steve Mount, Kitsap County's code-enforcement officer. The next step would be a court order allowing the county to hire a contractor to clean up the property at Young's expense, he said.
During a June 23 hearing, Mount told Hearing Examiner Kimberly Allen that most of the cars on the Spirit Ridge property had been removed, but remaining on the property were parts, tools, fluids, tubs, floor items and inoperable motorcycles. At the time, the site was still considered a nuisance.
Young told Allen that the motorcycles are more appropriately called "dirt bikes," and he argued that they are not vehicles, because they are not legal for street use, according to Allen's written findings. Allen considered Young's argument before concluding that the motorcycles are vehicles and junk under state and county laws.
Young took responsibility for the vehicles on his mother's Big Valley Road property, which he deeded to her in February this year. He admitted that some of the cars have been there for two years and asked for 60 days to remove all the vehicles from the property.
Allen's order gives Young 60 days to remove the remaining vehicles. Young might also appeal the examiner's findings to Kitsap County Superior Court.
In 2007, following a private lawsuit filed by neighbors, Young removed an estimated 200 vehicles from the same 13 acres of undeveloped property near Manor Farm Inn. Since then, however, many have been returned to the site.
When forced to take action or undergo financial penalties in 2007, Young moved an estimated 100 vehicles to a site zoned for industry at Gunderson and Bond roads north of Poulsbo. Property owner Bill Arness said the vehicle storage was to be a short-term arrangement. After four years, Mount said Arness will need to make sure the vehicles are removed soon or he might face abatement action as well.
Meanwhile, neighbors living on Frontier Road north of Silverdale reported that Young has begun moving some cars to vacant land in that location. Mount said he has advised the property owner to meet with county planners to determine what permits and conditions might allow for vehicle storage on the property.
No comments:
Post a Comment