Residents and applicant spar over proposed Old Prater Road junkyard at joint public hearing

At a joint public hearing on Feb. 26, the Smyth County Board of Supervisors and the Planning Commission heard testimony on a special use permit application from Zane Kite to operate a junkyard on 169 Old Prater Road, property owned by Jack Billings Jr.

Zane Kite described a business that buys, parts out and hauls junk vehicles for crushing and sale of scrap. He said the site was previously used as a junkyard, that he would limit active operations to about two to three acres of the approximately 46-acre parcel (he applied to DEQ for up to 6.5 acres for future use), and that he plans to minimize visibility with a privacy fence, operate mostly by appointment, and follow DEQ stormwater requirements. "I am not going to have a 'hillbilly-run junkyard' that everyone typically sees," Kite said, adding he would install silt controls, contain fluids and clean up existing debris.

Neighbors and several attendees expressed concern about potential environmental impacts. Dennis Farley, who owns property across the road, said Google Maps photos and past conditions show the site was previously littered with appliances and vehicles and urged the Board to consider how a large rotation of cars could affect neighbors. "Would you want it if it was beside your property?" Farley asked the Board.

Other residents raised similar worries about vehicle fluids entering a nearby creek that flows to Staley Creek and the potential harm to fish and downstream habitat. Rose Likins said she feared "oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid" and a lack of a clear disposal plan. Neighbor Joey Cook said he had discussed the stream with the fish hatchery and the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and remained concerned about runoff.

Zane Kite told the Board he has discussed site engineering with a VDOT contact and a site engineer and said he would use a mobile office and, if necessary, a mobile crusher (or work with a mobile crusher operator such as Berry's) for off‑site processing. He said fluids would be managed with containment and absorbents and offered to install a silt fence or a settling mote if required. "If need be, I would be happy to put one in," Kite said when asked about additional protective measures.

Zoning Administrator Becca Creasy read one letter of opposition from Colton Farley and 15 letters of support from neighbors and community members, whose names were entered into the record. During questioning, officials noted the property had lost its prior nonconforming junkyard status after a period of inactivity, meaning Kite must secure a special use permit and any required DEQ and VDOT approvals before operating.

The Planning Commission and Board members asked about visible vehicles, site grading, setbacks, and how long Kite would store vehicles; Kite said his holding period would typically be three to four months but could extend to a year or more for inventory turnover. Commissioners asked whether the fish hatchery had been notified; Creasy said the hatchery had been notified but no formal comment had been received.

With no final decision recorded at the hearing's close, the matter will remain before the Planning Commission and the Board for their next procedural steps. The application record shows the Board and Planning Commission considered community input, DEQ permitting requirements, VDOT access approval and proposed mitigation measures.