DANVILLE — Controversy and neighbor concerns surrounded Bryant Industries’ initial plans to open a U-Pull Yard for auto parts on Warrington Avenue.

But the new lot has been open a few weeks now and all has been fairly quiet.

Bryant Industries chief financial officer Erik Plotner said the lot has been open since June 12.

“It started slow,” he said, but there have been more people visiting the site since a “Now Open” sign was put up.

A grand opening for the new yard will occur Saturday.

The grand opening also launches a loyal customer, punch card program for reaching scrap metal and recycled item thresholds. There is no fee right now to enter the U-Pull Yard and look for car parts to purchase. But a $1 fee may soon be implemented.

Bryant Industries sells new and used late model auto parts and purchases recyclable materials, such as junk cars, aluminum and other scrap metal.

In October 2008, the Danville Area Planning and Zoning Commission approved Bryant’s Auto Parts & Recycling’s special-use permit request to allow the placement of inoperable vehicles on a lot adjacent to the scrap metal and recycling business’ headquarters and also owned by Bryant in the 1300 block of Warrington Avenue.

Bryant owned the adjacent east land, which is off U.S. Route 150 and west of Danville, and initially began storing vehicles there. But this was not in compliance with city zoning regulations. Only township approval was sought.

Public support outweighed opposition in January for the permit, and the city council approved the new u-pull auto parts yard where persons can remove small parts from the vehicles with hand tools.

At that meeting, Plotner stressed efforts the business has taken to address noise, dust, traffic and other neighborhood concerns.

He explained how it would not be a “junk yard” by city definition, and how five to six jobs would be created with the expansion.

YARD OPERATIONS

Plotner said three full-time jobs and two-part time jobs (one being a summer intern) were created with the new yard.

General hours for the yard are 8 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Summer hours are 7:30 to 4:30 p.m., with Saturday hours, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is closed on Sunday.

All the vehicles are drained of fluids, to meet EPA standards. The inoperable cars are eventually crushed.

Plotner said Bryant Industries has no plans to add a crusher to their operations.

The site has a new small building outside the fenced yard that houses a sign-in sheet and computer system to help those searching for parts.

Danville Planning and Zoning Manager Chris Milliken said trees and mulch have been placed outside the green fence to meet city landscaping requirements, with the fence closed in.

He’s heard no additional complaints, such as about noise.

Neighbor Jeanne Scott, who was among the residents concerned about the original noisy operations there and additional traffic, said she has no “big complaints” with the new lot. She still doesn’t like hearing noises from the business on Saturdays.

“It’s just not any better,” she said.

And in riding her bicycle in the neighborhood, she’s picked up some junk “every once in a while,” such as car seat springs.

If any special-use permit violations occur, the city can revoke the permit.

“We do appreciate them trying to be a good neighbor,” Scott said.

A remaining improvement to the U-Pull Yard is to tar and chip the entrance road up to the fence.

“It’s nice and clean and the cars are stacked nicely,” Plotner said.

Those looking for parts can rent tools to take the parts off the inoperable vehicles. There are little wagons to help pull the parts back to the entrance building, in addition to a hand-washing station. The cars also are propped up to see underneath them, and the vehicles are separated by make.

There are about 400 vehicles in the yard so far, with room for about 200 more.

“It’s a nice low-cost option,” Plotner said of those looking to buy cheaper, car part replacements.

Hoopeston resident Raymond Lovell agrees.

“I think it’s laid out pretty good,” he said. “It looks nice out there and safe.”

Lovell was looking for a speedometer sensor for his 1991 Chevy pickup truck. He said buying one there is cheaper than a new one.

He expects to visit the yard regularly.



COMING UP

Bryant Industries is having a grand opening from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday for its new U-Pull Yard. There will be free hot dogs and refreshments from Mustard’s Last Stand from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in addition to free T-shirts and other giveaways.