Representatives from the LKQ auto salvage business appeared before the Dorr Township Planning Commission Tuesday night to apologize profusely for allowing junk cars to be seen easily in its parking lot.

Their presence followed their reception of a letter from Dorr Township Zoning Enforcement Administrator Lori Castello of Professional Code Inspections, who gave the business 15 days to comply with the local junk car ordinance or possibiy face the loss of its special use permit.

The auto salvage business, located at 4676 Division Ave., over the last several years has been in a state of non-compliance with the conditions of its special use permit. She earned the blessing of the Planning Commission to send the letter.

She said the business is an asset to the community, but, “they have to play by the rules just like everybody else.”

Mike Dossia, representing LKQ, said Tuesday night, “We’ve taken immediate action on our retail yard,” noting the offending vehicles have moved in back of the main building.

“We’ve had staffing issues because of Covid and some of our customers were dropping off their vehicles in the evenings,” he added. “We’re getting a lot of street buys.” 

He concluded that the company is putting up fencing to restrict evening dropoffs.

While accepting the apology, Commissioner Larry Dolegowski commented, “We’re not trying to put you out of business, but it’s a junk yard. The vehicles should be parked out back.”

Commissioners agreed that LKQ has responded quickly and well to the letter.

In other business, the commission recommended two rezoning requests that probably will go before the Township Board for final approval next month.

One was from Jan Goodwin and sisters Marcia Merren and Linda Johnston to rezone their parents’ property on 14th Street from agricultural to rural estates. They want to split the parcel five ways in the wake of the death of parents Russell and Viola Shoemaker.

Dan Beute, who was acting chairman of the meeting in the absence of Bob Wagner, said, “This sounds like an inheritance,” and he was told by Goodwin it was.

Johnston continues to live at the family farm on the property.

The second was rezoning five acres of agricultural land from ag to mixed use industrial, just like the other 15 acres of the parcel at 12th Street and 142nd Avenue.

Craig Baker of First Companies issued the request, which met with no opposition.