Huntington Land Use Administrator Gary Arrington opened the presentation concerning the business property located at 54 West Center in Huntington with a brief history of the property. He said in 2003, a person bought the property and opened a manufacturing/service type business. Included in the business license for this business were storage units.
Due to the noise and nuisance ordinance violations, this business was closed down in Huntington and moved to Sanpete County. Many of the area residents had complained about loud, construction noises at all hours of the day and night. These complaints brought to light the number of nuisance ordinance violations by this business.
In 2006, Darrin Hurdsman purchased the property and received a renewed business license to operate the site as a storage area at which storage units would be constructed and cars, along with RVs and other such items would be stored by private individuals.
“This should not have been done,” said Arrington. He went on to explain that this move should have had city council approval, but that was not done and Hurdsman has a valid business license to operate the storage facility. At this meeting, Hurdsman is requesting a renewal for that license.
Arrington went on to say, “It is zoned for this legitimate business. Darrin has said there will be indoor/outdoor storage at this location and that he may also store state impounded vehicles. The only conditional use noted for this property is the construction of a sight obscured six foot fence and Darrin has assured me it will be in place by June 30. This type of work cannot be done now due to weather conditions. He has also assured us that he will go above and beyond the requirements by landscaping the property.”
Arrington stated he has heard some concerns from residents about the possibility of mechanic work being done on this site. “They cannot do that type of work here. His business license is for storage use only,” concluded Arrington.
Cato Wagner, of Huntington’s land use authority, read the minutes from the original city council meeting in which the previous business license was granted. The only condition to the license was the construction of the sight obscured fence. This has not been completed. “I realize this business license was granted by a previous mayor and council and I am cautioning you to investigate before making any decisions in this license renewal,” said Wagner.
Mayor Hilary Gordon informed the council of a meeting with Nick Sampinos, the city’s attorney, in which he advised there is no reason to deny the renewal of this license.
Huntington resident LaMar Guymon, who lives across the street from this property was next to speak. He said he is representing himself and his property value. “In 2003, Jerry Carlson did everything by the rules. The business he opened there was noisy 24 hours a day. It then moved to Sanpete County. Carlson then received a business license for the property to open a storage facility. In 2004 he opened a different type of business doing something with filters for the mines. In 2005, he renewed that license. In 2006, he did not renew it. Then in 2007, he did not renew any of the licenses. In my estimation, that makes that license void. I do not understand how Darrin Hurdsman came along in 2007 and renewed a void business license. Now in 2008, he wants another renewal. As far as I am concerned, his license is not valid, and the sign on the property doesn’t say anything about storage, it says C and S Towing and Recovery,” concluded Guymon. “I don’t want this business to ruin the neighborhood property values.”
Following Guymon, Hurdsman spoke with a little added history of the property. “When I built my original storage units behind Castle Service, I did everything that was required and I went by all the rules. I am already licensed for a storage business. We, me and the previous officials, discussed the issue and came to conclusions and that is what I did. I was never told that anything I did was inappropriate and I was also never told of any conditional uses attached to this property,” Hurdsman said.
“I have already made investments and improvements to this property,” Hurdsman continued. “There are two other signs at the property that say Castle Valley Storage. I have cleaned up much of the previous owners’ mess and the only things left are his personal property which he is supposed to come and get. I have no objections to the conditional uses. I will install the sight obscured fencing and I will try to clean up and improve the property,” concluded Hurdsman.
The Huntington City Council members were each given time to ask questions of Hurdsman. They asked about his hours of operation and informed him of the nuisance ordinance requirements. They also asked about the necessity of another impound lot in Huntington.
Council members decided to review the land use authority recommendations and do more research into the legalities as far as the current ordinances. They will make a decision at the regular council meeting on Feb. 20.
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