Licenses reinstated for auto salvage, towing company

A Warren auto salvage and towing company that had its licenses for operating a junkyard, a second hand goods dealership, and secondhand vehicle dealership as well as its towing contract suspended earlier this month has had the suspensions lifted after an inspection by the city’s building department last week.

Building department director James Cummins said although he found 11 violations at Neuner’s Automotive Recyclers, LLC located on Mound Road between 12 Mile Road and I-696 during his April inspection, a re-inspection last week showed those violations have all been rectified and the business is approved to operate both its towing business and its automotive recycling business.

According to tax records, Neuner’s has been operating at its Mound Road location since 2011.

“When I was out there in April, it was a junkyard and I had pictures,” said Cummins. “But I have pictures from my inspection yesterday and it looks great and we want them to keep it that way.”

Cummins said the business has also made the necessary upgrades to come into compliance with its site plan.

The only remaining issue is reinstatement of the junkyard license 23-0201 because the property is currently zoned M-2 and, according to zoning guidelines, needs to be rezoned as M-4 in order to operate a junkyard.

Speaking during the June 13 Warren City Council meeting, owner Glenn Neuner explained that he is not operating a junkyard but an auto salvage business and that he does not believe an M-5 zoning is necessary in order to crush dismantled cars which are then removed from the premises after they are crushed and stacked.

Attorney Patrick Arella, who was at the council meeting representing Neuner’s, said he believes that variances granted when the junkyard license and certificate of occupancy were first given should allow his client to operate an auto recycling business without having to get an M-5 designation.

Council President Patrick Green said he would like the matter to go before the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals and allow that body to determine what the proper zoning would be.. Arella said his client has already applied for a hearing in front of the ZBA.

The city council voted to allow a six-month stay for Neuner’s to operate its automotive recycling business while working through the zoning issues connected to the junkyard license.

Neuner’s was shut down and unable to operate for approximately two weeks.

“This has cost me an ungodly amount of money,” said Neuner. “We’ve lost at least $50,000 because of this.”