TORRINGTON – County Commissioners heard from people who have property and road concerns asking for zoning laws on Tuesday.
Vince and Mary Jo Barajas asked to be heard by the commissioners regarding their family property at 939 East 3rd Avenue. The land has been in the family since the 1930’s.
The couple were concerned the recycle company that has “taken root in the neighborhood” and the trailer park that has been put next to their property, they said.
M & T Recycling had moved in eight trailers on a one-acre lot. The Barajas learned commissioners told M & T they had too many trailers on the land and they needed to remove the excess trailers.
“We were told by neighbors the commission gave them five years to remove the extra trailers,” said Joy. “Of the eight trailers, only six are habitable. in the last year, they have moved in a camping trailer that has been made permanent.”
The main concern is continued piling of used materials, including used galvanized pipe just piled by the trailers. The Barajas bring family to the property to enjoy southeast Wyoming and Torrington, with the proximity to Hawk Springs and Guernsey.
Finding out Goshen County has no zoning, but they do have mobile home regulations, the Barajas asked to talk to the County Commissioners for information and assistance.
The commissioners referred to the County Planner Gary Childs.
“If you have more than two mobile homes (on a property), you are subject to the regulations,” he said. “If you own one mobile home you can have two more on a lot, if you own it does not fall under the regulations. if you rent out the mobile homes, it will fall within the regulations.”
But because of no zoning in the county, there are no regulations governing the storage of mobile homes or junk cars, Childs said.
The Barajas fear that they will have another M&T Recycling plant right next to them in what is a historically residential area.
The business should be next to the dump and not next to a residence. Joy Barajas asked if, because there is no zoning, they can trash the neighborhood and force people out and store flammable toxic material next to someone’s fence and home.
“We have a petition that numerous people have signed they want action,” she said. “Would being annexed to the city be the answer for their zoning laws?
“I am frightened,” Joy Barajas said. “It does not seem right that someone can construct a business that adversely affects people in their homes.”
