Planning commission recommends denial of LKQ salvage-yard expansion after neighbor, staff concerns

The Citrus County Planning and Development Commission on June 10 recommended denial of application CPA/AA/PUD‑2024‑00018, a request by LKQ Southeast to change roughly 34.56 acres of low‑density residential land to heavy industrial and add open outdoor storage for auto salvage.

The commission’s recommendation — which the board framed as inconsistent with the county comprehensive plan and land‑development code — passed 5–1 and will be forwarded to the Citrus County Board of County Commissioners for final action; the hearing was scheduled for July 29 at 5:01 p.m.

The applicant told the commission the expansion would enlarge LKQ’s existing Crystal River operation by about 35 percent to provide additional storage of already‑dismantled vehicles, not to change the on‑site dismantling. Engineer Michael Wilburn described the site as roughly 34.56 acres and said the proposal “is just storage of already harvested cars,” while company representative Casey Ingram said LKQ’s dismantling work remains inside a roofed building and that the operation follows best practices. Ingram told the board, “All of our dismantling process takes place under roof. Everything takes place on top of concrete. None of the all the fluids are contained. We've not had an environmental issue in the 25 years…