Sep 25, 2008 3 min read

The board approved a request for a special exception and a variance from setbacks for David Teslovich to operate a metal salvage facility/junk storage, sales and salvage operation on property zoned M2, heavy industrial, on New Salem Road in Filbert. The facility cannot open for business until Teslovich obtains the necessary permits from the state Department of Environmental Protection, and Teslovich must erect an 8-foot fence and plant pine trees around the entire site.

Other conditions include not leaving liquid waste products such as oil on site for more than 30 days; no storing of more than 30 cars of cars for more than 30 days; no storing of more than 1,000 gallons of petroleum and coordination of truck traffic to make sure it doesn’t occur the same time as school bus traffic.

The facility would be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and half a day on Saturdays. Teslovich said he would not open on Sundays or holidays.

Teslovich said he currently operates a concrete operation at the site. He said his plans for the new business are to get metal from the local fabricators and the balance of his business would be from local patrons delivering scrap metal.

“I really don’t want to develop into a junkyard. My focus is on the salvage and scrap end of it,” Teslovich said.

Teslovich said he isn’t aware of all the requirements of removing and storing waste materials from vehicles, but would follow all applicable laws regarding that. Also, he said no tires would be permitted on vehicles brought to the site.

Surveyor Gary Hill of Daisytown said the 28.6-acre site includes a natural buffer zone with trees on a portion of the perimeter of the property. However, because the trees lose leaves in the fall, additional pine trees must be planted.

Joseph Mitchell, who lives on Third Street in Filbert, said he was concerned that he and other neighbors whose properties are above the height of the fence will be able to see inside the property. Another neighbor testified that she was concerned about health issues that could result in stream contamination from waste materials at the site.

Richard Rankin of Smithfield testified that he thinks the business would be good for the community as a place to take junk and get rid of it.

In an unrelated matter, the zoning board approved a request to recognize a non-conforming use for a scrap metal business that has been in operation since the early 1960s.

The business, Kubina Metals, operates in Grindstone on property zoned A-1 agricultural rural. Owner Paul Kubina first learned he was not in compliance with the zoning ordinance earlier this year when he applied for a permit to build an additional to a building.

The scrap metal and recycling business has been in existence since prior to when zoning was implemented in the county in 1968.

Kubina and Frank Angelilli of Grindstone both testified that the business has been continuously operating since the early 1960s.

Before taking action, zoning board Chairman Jim Killinger verified that the business has been in operation for years and approval was never given for a non-conforming use.