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Escambia Set To Approve New Code Enforcement Agreement With Century
September 1, 2011
Escambia County is expected to approve an amended agreement allowing for expanded code enforcement operations in Century — an amendment that the town says will allow them to shut down a business operating illegally in a residential neighborhood.
Century’s current interlocal agreement with Escambia County enacted in 2009 does not allow for enforcement of zoning issues. Under the new agreement, county code enforcement will enforce zoning issues at Century’s expense. Nuisance violation enforcement will continue at no cost to Century, covered by a Community Development Block Grant.
We have a severe zoning issue in the town,” Century Mayor McCall said at a recent town council meeting. “You’ve got one house that is in the residential area that has junk piled up. He’s running a business…in a residential place.”
George W. Philyaw says what he does behind his privacy fence at 120 front street is recycling, while the town says he is operating a junkyard on property that is zoned residential. Over a year ago, the Century Town Council cited regulations against “spot zoning” and denied Philyaw’s request to rezone the property for a recycling business.
At issue with 120 Front Street, according to the town, is whether or not Philyaw is operating a business on property that is zoned residential — not if the alleged business is a junkyard or recycling operation February of this year, the town council instructed Mayor Freddie McCall to contact Escambia County’s Code Enforcement and seek a cease and desist order against Philyaw and the alleged business he operates.
But Sandra Slay, director of Escambia County Code Enforcement, said at that time that the current interlocal agreement between Century and Escambia County does not allow for the enforcement of issues like zoning, solid waste violations and stormwater.
The new agreement with Escambia County does not change any of the laws on the books, McCall said; it just gives Escambia County Code Enforcement the right to enforce the current laws.
McCall makes no secret that Philyaw is the current target of the town’s new interlocal agreement with Escambia County, but he said the agreement would allow the town to use code enforcement to pursue any future zoning violators.
“That is the only issue we have at this time,” McCall said.
The Escambia County Commission will consider the amended code enforcement with Century at their regular September 1 meeting. To read the amended agreement, click here.
Comments
6 Responses to “Escambia Set To Approve New Code Enforcement Agreement With Century”
Vendettas and bad blood walk hand in hand. I hope this is not an effort to gain credibility. I wish I could see a 360 degree view of the property. This sounds like one for the courts and lawyer$. I do not like eyesores, but the above photo appears acceptable to me. Aside from criminal activity, what goes on in the 4th dimension, behind that fence is Mr Philyaws affair.
Hmmmmm. seems to me a million dollar road goes right past this “junk yard,” that road was put in for commercial purposes (aka the saw mill.) Where does the commercial begin and the residential end. This is just crazy. Seems to me there are people sticking their noses in to where they don’t belong. If you didn’t know from all the media that there is a “junk yard” behind the fence, you wouldn’t know at all. Yes the properly leading up to the house needs cleaning up, let’s start there. But to tell the truth there are other properties in that area that looks bad also. As for the old hotel, that is taking way too long, and is still looking way too bad!
The old sawmill looks better than some of these houses in Century. The main thing I see about the old sawmill is maybe they need to mow the grass more often. The old hotel is slowly being re-modeled and fixed up. so at least they are making an effort to make it look better, which is more than you can say about some of these residental places. There are intersections that are dangerous because of the bushes and growth that block the view of on coming traffic. The way I see it don’t nit pick certian places if ou aren’t going to be fair and cite all of them. I live here in Century so I am trying to be fair to all residents. By the way what good is a citation if that is all it ever amounts to. (no following up and saying you have not abided by the citation you were given)
I will be so happy if this goes through. That place is an eyesore, and the fence does not hide it all. People need to learn that you need to keep your home and yard tidy.
I applaud the town for continuing to push on this issue. My mother fought to clean up Century for a long time, and was met with a lot of resistance from some people, but she continued on!!! Go Century!!!
It appears that the junkyard is not visable to the casual observer. I do not want to get into quantum entanglement, but it appears to be out of sight and should be out of mind, unless there is noise and noxious fumes emanating from the property, is there a problem with large trucks coming and going from the property? The causality of the junkyard and the rezoning is not quite clear, to me.
Spot zoning on Front street? What does Century call the old saw mill, which by the way is on Front Street, a mixed use housing development or a comercial business site? And what about the old Century Hotel on Front street, isn’t that a comercial property that was once a business? Sounds like Century wants to have its cake and eat it too.