Mullica Revokes Junkyard's License
From the Atlantic City Press Published: Wednesday, September 24, 2008
MULLICA TOWNSHIP - A junkyard was wiped off the map Tuesday night by a Township Committee that was almost as fed up with the property's long history of zoning violations as its neighbors were. The five-member panel voted unanimously to revoke the license of Vasilakis Junkyard at 4713 White Horse Pike. The move also makes any future owner of the property ineligible to obtain such a license.
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Constantinos "Gus" Vasilakis' attorney Tom Darcy said he would discuss with his client the possibility of appealing the decision.
Vasilakis, a Toms River resident, has owned the property in the Elwood section - 1.9 acres the township values at $192,200 - since 1988. Since then, it has been cited for violations in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2004, last year and this year, Township Solicitor Norman Zlotnick said.
The most recent problems stemmed from Vasilakis leasing to a business called Tri-State Metals. The company began operating a scrap metal junk business in early August but did not apply for a junkyard license until Sept. 19, its application form shows.
"The gun was jumped a little bit here," Darcy said. Tri-State Metals illegally parked and idled a tractor-trailer on the property and placed signs without permission, Darcy said. Scrap metal was piled above the 8-foot fence.
In addition, rimless tires have been stored outside, where they could accumulate water and attract insects, zoning officer Tom Sandman said, and someone has been illegally living in a trailer on the property.
"I'm out of patience," said Terri Savona, who has lived next door since 1990 and was one of several speakers to pronounce her neighbor's name more like Velazquez than Vasilakis. "Pull the license and make him toe the mark."
Savona empathized with Tri-State, telling the committee Vasilakis surely misrepresented the township's land-use restrictions when negotiating the lease. Zlotnick agreed, saying the property owner "simply cannot be believed."
Darcy asked for a "grace period" until Friday, during which time he promised the resident would be evicted, the signs removed and the junk business halted.
"We recognize that there are numerous violations," Darcy said, reporting the trailer has been removed and the tires stored inside.
Committee members were not receptive to a grace period, saying Vasilakis should have known better.
"Just what bothers me is that Gus has been here a long time and he knows the game," committee member Janet Forman said.
Added Forman's colleague Kathy Chasey: "What is our guarantee that he will indeed follow the rules if there have been problems in the past?"
Committee member Michael St. Amour asked Sandman how the junkyard's compliance has compared to several other junkyards in town. Others have had violations but have alleviated them, replied Sandman, who added he needs to shift his focus more toward the township's thousands of homes.
"I cannot live in the junkyards," Sandman said. "I cannot spend day after day, or two afternoons a week even, in one junkyard."
E-mail Eric Scott Campbell: ECampbell@pressofac.com
MULLICA TOWNSHIP - A junkyard was wiped off the map Tuesday night by a Township Committee that was almost as fed up with the property's long history of zoning violations as its neighbors were. The five-member panel voted unanimously to revoke the license of Vasilakis Junkyard at 4713 White Horse Pike. The move also makes any future owner of the property ineligible to obtain such a license.
Click "read more" for full article
(Continued from Page 1)
Constantinos "Gus" Vasilakis' attorney Tom Darcy said he would discuss with his client the possibility of appealing the decision.
Vasilakis, a Toms River resident, has owned the property in the Elwood section - 1.9 acres the township values at $192,200 - since 1988. Since then, it has been cited for violations in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2004, last year and this year, Township Solicitor Norman Zlotnick said.
The most recent problems stemmed from Vasilakis leasing to a business called Tri-State Metals. The company began operating a scrap metal junk business in early August but did not apply for a junkyard license until Sept. 19, its application form shows.
"The gun was jumped a little bit here," Darcy said. Tri-State Metals illegally parked and idled a tractor-trailer on the property and placed signs without permission, Darcy said. Scrap metal was piled above the 8-foot fence.
In addition, rimless tires have been stored outside, where they could accumulate water and attract insects, zoning officer Tom Sandman said, and someone has been illegally living in a trailer on the property.
"I'm out of patience," said Terri Savona, who has lived next door since 1990 and was one of several speakers to pronounce her neighbor's name more like Velazquez than Vasilakis. "Pull the license and make him toe the mark."
Savona empathized with Tri-State, telling the committee Vasilakis surely misrepresented the township's land-use restrictions when negotiating the lease. Zlotnick agreed, saying the property owner "simply cannot be believed."
Darcy asked for a "grace period" until Friday, during which time he promised the resident would be evicted, the signs removed and the junk business halted.
"We recognize that there are numerous violations," Darcy said, reporting the trailer has been removed and the tires stored inside.
Committee members were not receptive to a grace period, saying Vasilakis should have known better.
"Just what bothers me is that Gus has been here a long time and he knows the game," committee member Janet Forman said.
Added Forman's colleague Kathy Chasey: "What is our guarantee that he will indeed follow the rules if there have been problems in the past?"
Committee member Michael St. Amour asked Sandman how the junkyard's compliance has compared to several other junkyards in town. Others have had violations but have alleviated them, replied Sandman, who added he needs to shift his focus more toward the township's thousands of homes.
"I cannot live in the junkyards," Sandman said. "I cannot spend day after day, or two afternoons a week even, in one junkyard."
E-mail Eric Scott Campbell: ECampbell@pressofac.com
