What is the difference between a junkyard and a vehicle dismantling operation?
That was one question posed by Saugerties planners considering a proposal for the latter on Malden Turnpike.
The answer, according to Nigel Redman, a partner in enterprise, is public access.
“This is basically an e-commerce business, where we salvage and sell parts,” Redman said. “It is not open to the public. It is not a junkyard.”
The site is an 8,700-square-foot building on Malden Turnpike near Rt. 9W formerly used by the town highway department to store equipment.
Redman and partner Jamie Cohen, operating as Jaycee Sales LLC, presented their plan to the Planning Board on Tuesday, Nov. 18. It will be the subject of a public hearing Dec. 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the Senior Center.
Redman estimated that the facility would be dismantling about 10 cars a day and would store about 150 on the property. However, the property could hold up to 500 cars, he added. He said cars would not be visible from the road due to a berm.
The partners don’t have a crusher, but they hope to purchase one once the business is up and running. This would improve efficiency greatly, said Redman. The crusher would be housed indoors.
Tires would be sold to a recycler. “There’s a tire recycling place just up the road from us,” Cohen said. “They shred them up for playgrounds and we could make weekly deliveries there so it never builds up. The idea is to get rid of them as fast as possible.”
Redman estimated that the operation would employ 10 workers by the end of 2015 and possibly more down the road.
While the DEC specifies self-inspection, the agency will occasionally do spot checks, Redman said. Any complaint would trigger an inspection. The penalties for non-compliance with environmental and safety regulations are severe.
Weeks wanted to know whether the applicants intend to construct a fence around the property, which could make it unsightly. After some discussion, the board suggested that any fence that would be visible would require separate approval before it could be built.
Redman is now the owner of a vintage car and parts and restoration supply company, which will continue in operation. Cohen is the owner of Euro Nutz, an auto repair business on Rt. 212. Both businesses will continue to operate separately, Redman said. Redman is also a board member of Lighthouse TV, the town and village public television station.
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