The owner of the auto lot at 1001 East 20 Ninth Street told the Unsafe Building Hearing Authority Oct. 9 she has removed vehicles and worked with salvage and scrap partners but needs more time to bring the site into compliance with zoning and safety rules.

“I've sold 11. ... 15 have gone to scrap. We have a contract with Pick A Part,” owner Heather McKibben said, describing recent activity. Building and fire inspectors acknowledged progress on the building and fire-safety items but told the board the volume of vehicles on the lot—staff estimated between 325 and 350 from aerial images—remains incompatible with the property's current zoning. Inspectors pressed for a faster net reduction to avoid continued use as an unauthorized salvage yard.

City staff and the fire marshal recommended an inspection and set measurable expectations. The authority ordered a 30-day continuance with an inspection before the next hearing and told the owner to arrange a final walkthrough with the fire department. Staff members said they expect significantly higher monthly removals—inspectors suggested an aspirational target of about 50 net removals before the next hearing—because vehicles are still being brought onto the site even as others are sold or scrapped.

The authority noted two enforcement paths: owner compliance through faster removal and operations changes, or the city pursuing code enforcement remedies if the site continues to operate as an unpermitted salvage operation. The board continued the matter for 30 days and asked staff to coordinate a fire-department final inspection and report back.