Illegal junkyard owner promises to clean up site

John Taylor, owner of property north of LaPorte where an illegal junkyard was uncovered in late February, has been cited for a zoning violation.

Claudia Delude, code enforcement officer for Larimer County, said the citation was issued March 2, and Taylor has indicated he will cooperate in cleaning up the site, which is about one mile east of Ted's Place.

According to county records, Taylor is a resident of LaPorte.

The junkyard, filled with assorted scrap and 40-plus vehicles, many of them military surplus, was discovered when a grass fire broke out on the property Feb. 22. The fire began as a small recreational fire outside a camper trailer but quickly spread to more than 250 acres, burning through the junkyard in the process and scorching neighboring grassland owned by William Porter.

Delude said no fines are issued with zoning violations, but if the landowner doesn't rectify the situation, the matter could go to the county commissioners and eventually the court system. In Taylor's case, Delude said, he has promised to start cleaning up the site.

"As long as he's making progress, we'll work with him," she commented, adding that it will take a long time to clean up the area.

Taylor's property is zoned O-Open, zoning that does not permit junkyards.

The person who started the fire, Vincent Weaver of Fort Collins, was cited by the Poudre Fire Authority for burning without a permit.