WILTON — The Board of Selectmen approved a junkyard permit for stored machinery on Route 2 Tuesday.

In other business, they then took action to curb the formation of an auto junkyard on the Lake Road.

During a public hearing held Tuesday Code Enforcement Officer Paul Montague told the board that Kimball Farrington of Jay was storing old machinery on a lot at 461 Route 2 East, adjacent to Bowering’s Collectors Delight.

There is enough scrap metal there to meet the state’s definition of a junkyard, Montague said.

Farrington told the board he is storing machinery from Jarden’s, formerly Fosters, but since the price of scrap metal went down, it is just being stored for the time being.

Although Farrington had received Planning Board approval, Selectman Russell Black was concerned that no limitations had been set for the property located on a main road with a stream on the lot that drains into Wilson Stream. Black wanted to see conditions put on it to prevent it from expanding or becoming a full-blown junkyard, he said.

When asked what conditions, he suggested no automobiles could be hauled in and the collection could not expand too much.

“I realize Farrington needs to do business but it’s on a main highway in a commercial zone. I’m against it,” he said.

Farrington said the property size is limited and he has no intentions of adding automobiles nor does he expect to expand it.

The board voted 4-1 to grant a junkyard permit for one year and accept his word that he would not add automobiles or expand it more than 25 percent from what it is now.

In other business, Montague reported on several properties where he has been working with the owners. One concern is an auto repair business, Lake Road Auto, owned by Brett Philbrick. The Planning Board granted the business a permit with the condition that he could only have 20-cars including his own on the premises. A recent count amounted to 52-cars, Montague said.

It’s not unreasonable for the business to have a junk car or two around for auto parts but to have 52 on the premises means its become a junkyard, he said. He’s in violation of the Planning Board’s approval.

Philbrick has not responded to Montague’s communication or a visit from the chief of police in June, he said.

The board agreed to schedule a public hearing for the Aug. 18 meeting. This gives the owner time to meet the board’s “reasonable” expectation of only 20-cars on the site.

If the hearing still needs to be held, the board will then discuss taking legal action.

abryant@sunjournal.com