Board approves Velasquez parking variance for off-site auto-body business with 30-car cap and monitoring

The Jefferson County Board of Zoning Adjustment voted July 28 to allow Israel Velasquez to use part of his 9.84-acre A-1 zoned property to park vehicles connected to an off-site automotive body repair business and to retain an existing storage shed located three feet from a neighboring residence instead of the required 16 feet. Staff characterized the request as a limited expansion for parking only and recommended numerous conditions, including no on-site repair work and restrictions on commercial vehicles.

At the hearing, neighbor Daniel Carr, who lives at 8351 Kermit Johnson Road, told the board he had counted as many as 126 cars behind the property in the past and called the area "essentially a junkyard," saying he was concerned about property values and enforcement. Carr asked how the county would ensure compliance if the variance were granted. Velasquez told the board, "I will not have inoperable vehicles moving forward," and said he had already been removing nonrunning vehicles after receiving a county notice in the spring.

Staff recommended conditions that the expanded use be for parking only, that no significant on-site repair or sales occur, that parking be confined to the rear of the residence, that a 15-foot natural buffer be maintained along the north, east and south property lines, that no inoperable vehicles be parked on the property, and that staff monitor the operation and reserve the right to request reconsideration. Board members debated adding a numerical cap on vehicles; one board member proposed and the board adopted a cap of 30 vehicles.

The board moved and seconded a motion to approve case A250020 with the listed stipulations, including the 30-vehicle cap and the reduced setback for the existing storage shed. A vote was taken and the chair announced the motion passed. The board noted it may reconsider the case if staff or the public raise sufficient concerns about compliance.