Planning commission approves special-use permit for towing service at Production Drive

The York County Planning Commission voted to approve PC 26-18R, authorizing a special-use permit for a towing service and vehicle impound yard on two parcels at 126 and 128 Production Drive in the Bethel Industrial Park area.

Staff presented the application and recommended approval with conditions intended to limit visual and noise impacts on the adjacent York Manor residential neighborhood, including an 8-foot opaque perimeter fence, interior evergreen plantings along the inside face of the back fence, concrete wheel stops, and specified storage limits. "Staff recommends approval of the application subject to the conditions outlined in proposed resolution PC 26-18," the presenting staff member said. The staff report also stated vehicles that are operable cannot be stored for more than 90 days; inoperable vehicles cannot be stored for more than 30 days and only one could be stored at a time before the commission amended that condition during deliberations.

Applicant Chuck Worley described the operation as similar to the prior auto-repair use and said he had spoken with nearby residents. "I don't think it's going to be a big change for anybody... especially with the new black mesh that I put up, and now the new gate that's going to be put up, nobody's even going to see it," Worley said. Commissioners asked staff and counsel about after-hours access for vehicle retrieval and enforcement of storage limits; counsel and staff described typical practices for police-initiated towing and the use of posted contact information for after-hours pickups.

During deliberations the body agreed to amend the condition limiting inoperable vehicles from one to five on the property. Commissioner Mr. Chamberlain moved to adopt PC 26-18R; several commissioners recorded affirmative votes and the chair announced, "Motion passes." The resolution adopts the permit subject to the staff conditions as amended.