Neighbors’ complaints prompt Planning Board to table Stone Road lot split

The Village of Valley View Planning Board on July 16 voted to table a request to split and consolidate the parcel at 10820 Stone Rd., saying the application required the presence of the property owner and the building inspector so the board could resolve neighbors’ enforcement concerns.

Julie Jakubczak, who spoke in caucus as a representative for the applicant, said the proposed transaction involves selling the portion adjacent to her son’s parcel at 10906 Stone Rd. and that the buyer planned to build a pole barn. Solicitor Lambros and Mayor Matt March clarified that the paperwork submitted reflects a consolidation of parcels and that consolidation would change how the parcels are recorded.

Neighbors pressed the board, describing long‑running problems at the Ezzo property. “It’s a junkyard,” resident Chris Cichocki said, listing trailers, scrap metal and derelict vehicles. “When I look out my kitchen window, everything is a mess,” Angie Putich said. David Lea said the field he used to play in has “degraded so considerably.” Member Joseph White characterized a fence erected on the property as “a piece of garbage.”

Solicitor Lambros reminded speakers that the immediate matter before the board is the lot split and consolidation, not enforcement. He and Secretary Marty Johnston said enforcement questions (citations, code violations, whether business activity is permitted at a residence) must be pursued with Building Inspector Ellis and the police department. The board agreed to table the request until Mr. Ezzo and Mr. Ellis could attend to address outstanding compliance matters.

The motion to table was made by Secretary Marty Johnston and seconded by Commissioner Mike Bertovich; the roll call vote was unanimous in favor. Mayor Matt March said he would ask Building Inspector Ellis to provide a five‑year history of interactions with the property and offered to raise the neighbors’ concerns at the next council meeting if needed.

The board did not take any enforcement action at the July 16 meeting; it recorded that equipment on the parcel would need to be identified as lawful or unlawful during any subsequent inspection. The applicant was told the lot‑split matter will return to the Planning Board when the owner and Building Inspector Ellis can attend.