WILTON – By next year voters may be asked to make changes in the town’s zoning ordinance to allow junkyards in commercial zones.

Planners decided Thursday to consider a proposal that will be drafted by Code Enforcement Officer Brenda Medcoff.

Rick Collins of Collins’ Enterprises on Route 2 recently asked Medcoff whether he may be able to obtain a junkyard and auto graveyard permit. In 1998 the town’s zoning ordinance was changed when voters agreed to only allow junkyards in industrial zones. Collins’ property is in a commercial zone.

A permit Collins had at a separate location up until the late 1980s can not be grandfathered, according to state law, because it has been over a year since it was discontinued, Medcoff said.

Medcoff said there are currently no industrial zones in town because they have all been developed. In essence, she said, the town has banned junkyards.

“We’re having difficulty with junkyards in town, but people have no place to bring their junk,” Medcoff said.

Medcoff said the town could either rezone Collins’ lot to allow him a junkyard or change the ordinance to permit junkyards in all commercial zones. She said the first option would lead to spot zoning, something the town would like to avoid. Medcoff said all area towns are struggling with the same issue.

Medcoff said Collins, whose business is longstanding, is currently in violation of the ordinance, but she would rather wait until she is able to deal with all such businesses in town, rather than “picking on one person.” She said the town’s junkyard ordinance, which would not be changed, is more stringent than the state’s in some ways.

But Collins said he does not have a junkyard. He said he currently operates as an auto repair and auto sales facility and all of the vehicles on his property are either for sale, being repaired, or in the process of being claimed or otherwise disposed of. The process he is required to go through in order to dispose of some vehicles is what causes him to be out of compliance with the ordinance, he said. Under the junkyard ordinance an individual has 90 days to dispose of disabled vehicles.

Planners agreed they would rather see junkyards allowed in commercial zones than in Residential I and II zones, where many junkyards now exist. Medcoff said the move would mean many junkyards now in violation would come into compliance by being able to obtain permits in commercial zones.

Medcoff will draft a proposal that would change the zoning ordinance to allow junkyards and auto graveyards in commercial zones. Upon a positive vote from planners, a public hearing will be held on the issue. Voters will have the final say either at a special town meeting or the annual town meeting next June.

In other business, Medcoff presented planners with a draft of a letter signed by Chairman Russell Black to the town’s Board of Selectmen asking for an increase in Medcoff’s hours. Medcoff plans to present the letter to selectmen for their consideration Tuesday during the regular selectmen’s meeting. Medcoff will also give selectmen a breakdown of her hours.

The issue was raised in the past when former Code Enforcement Officer David Giroux held that position. At that time former Town Manager Richard Davis said the code enforcement officer needed to better use his hours rather than have them increased.

Now planners and Medcoff are asking for an increase of eight hours per week to allow Medcoff time to “effectively fulfill all of her duties” and allow townspeople another day to have access to her. Medcoff currently works 20 hours per week. She said this does not give her enough time to deal with the large number of violations, permits, assisting people with applications, and preparing them for reviews, among other duties.

Planners said several townspeople are in support of increasing hours.

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