WILTON — The owner of an auto repair service has until Sept. 30 to remove any vehicles beyond the 20 allowed on his Lake Road business site.

Brett Philbrick of Lakeside Auto has had as many as 52 vehicles on his lot in the residential district, Code Enforcement Officer Paul Montague told the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday during a public hearing. This meets the state definition of a junkyard and junkyards aren’t allowed in residential areas, he said.

After receiving some complaints, Montague previously brought the issue to the board resulting in the Tuesday hearing. Philbrick has removed some vehicles but more than 20 remain, which violates his permit.

Philbrick’s parents have applied for a junkyard permit on their property in Dixfield. He intends to use that as a place for the overload. He has been hauling off vehicles while trying to keep his business running, he told the board.

When asked why there were so many vehicles, Philbrick said some people leave them after they don’t pass inspection, some are now owned by banks, which haven’t picked them up, and he doesn’t have the titles so he can’t send them to be crushed. Still others are being held until the repair bills are paid.

On Mondays there may be up to 10 vehicles left to be worked on during the week, he said. He also has his son’s stock car there and a hobby vehicle he has been working on for years, he said.

Although neighbor Debbie Trask, whose home overlooks the business, told the board the yard has been “a little bit out of control,” she thought Philbrick was making an effort while trying to make a living and raise a family.

The board agreed to give Philbrick until Sept. 30 to complete the cleanup.

While race cars and cars being rebuilt were included in the 20-vehicle count, employees’ and customers’ cars and the vehicles of family visitors were not, the board agreed.

abryant@sunjournal.com

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