The Fayetteville Planning Commission on July 14 voted to table consideration of a requested amendment and extension of a conditional use permit for Vaughn Recycling to the August 25 meeting so city staff can verify whether recent site cleanup remedies an identified code violation.

Donna Wansauer, the city planner on the item, told the commission that the property at 1236 and 1246 South School Avenue encompasses about 2.33 acres with a 6,000-square-foot warehouse and a 1,500-square-foot service garage. She said staff validated complaints in 2021 showing use had expanded to the northern parcel and that the CUP extension previously granted had expired because required grading-permit inspections had not been completed. "Staff is recommending denial of this request," Wansauer said, citing the long-standing nature of the code violation and the absence of a demonstrated hardship.

Trevor Howard, who says he represents Vaughn Recycling, told the commission photos submitted that day show the northern parcel has been cleared and asked the commission to table the request for 30 days to allow staff to validate compliance. "The applicant has taken some extensive measures to get that northern parcel cleaned and cleared," Howard said.

Commissioner Casten moved to table the request to the August 25 meeting; Commissioner Payne seconded. Commissioner Garlock said he opposed tabling the item because the violation has persisted for years and no hardship had been presented. The motion to table carried; Wansauer called the roll and the recorded votes were Garlock — no; McGatrick — yes; Casten — yes; Warner — yes; Madden — yes; Cabe — yes; Payne — yes; Brink — yes.

Howard told the commission he began representing the client in 2022 and said contractors had quoted about $600,000 to bring the property into compliance, which the applicant said it could not afford. He said the requested tabling was meant to give staff time to confirm the photos showing cleanup and possibly withdraw the amendment request if staff finds the violation remedied.

Staff noted receipt of photographic evidence from the applicant that same day but had not had time to validate it. Wansauer said the northern parcel had previously been added to the CUP in 2023, and that inclusion had lapsed when grading-permit inspections were not completed. The commission’s tabling does not change staff’s recommendation; it delays action while staff verifies site conditions.

Next steps: the applicant asked for and received a 30-day continuation to the August 25 Planning Commission meeting so staff could review compliance evidence. If staff confirms the site is in compliance, the applicant indicated it might withdraw the amendment that would require a large-scale development process. If staff does not confirm compliance, the item will return with staff recommendation for denial.