Tuesday evening the Plymouth Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously denied the variance of use request of Morris Group and Todd Hess to operate a recycling center at 111 North Second Street.
The property is currently zoned R-3 Traditional Residential but has operated as a recycling center in the past. Because the business ceased to operate for an entire year the zoning reverted to residential.
Hess currently operates Alternate Course Recycling in Bremen but needs to relocate his business because his landlord wants the property in Bremen for his business.
Hess said he planned to recycle several types of material and mainly gathers recycling products from industry and businesses including Saint Joseph Health Systems in Plymouth, Ancilla College and Coca Cola Bottling. He also indicated he would like to have containers for drop off individuals and small businesses to drop off.
Three neighbors spoke out against the operation. Mary Muffley said Mike Morris has taken terrible care of the property. She was also concerned with containers recently placed in the fenced in yard that have chemical stickers on them and for the noise that will be created from the facility.
Another neighbor, Dan Milner lives directly to the west of the building. He is concerned noise, the additional traffic and vandalism. His wife, Cindy voiced her concerns on reduced property values, the additional traffic on the alley, noise and existing and potential environmental pollution.
While Mr. Hess was willing to compromise and not have drop off recycling to reduce traffic and assurances that he would improve the condition of the property the Plymouth Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously denied the Variance of Use request.
