Date: Fri 06-Jun-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

court-Plunske-old-cars

Full Text:

Judge Orders Cars Removed From John Beach Road Property

BY ANDREW GOROSKO

A judge has ordered a Redding man to remove several more old cars and trucks

from his property at 28 John Beach Road by July 21 as part of the town's

continuing effort to resolve longstanding zoning violations there.

Danbury Superior Court Judge Edward F. Stodolink told Raymond A. Plunske, Jr,

of Redding Monday afternoon that he must make progress in removing the

unregistered vehicles, which are illegally stored outdoors.

The town has been to court numerous times in recent months seeking to have Mr

Plunske comply with the zoning regulations, according to Zoning Enforcement

Officer William Nicholson.

The town's enforcement actions against Mr Plunske stem from complaints by

neighbors.

Mr Nicholson told Judge Stodolink that based on a Monday morning inspection of

the Plunske property, Mr Plunske had removed three vehicles from the site

which had been violating the zoning regulations.

Attorney Joseph G. Walsh, representing the town, said that since the town

began its push to have Mr Plunske comply with the zoning regulations, Mr

Plunske has removed eight motor vehicles from his property. The town wants the

remaining eight vehicles removed.

The town filed a list with the court February 4, describing the various motor

vehicles and building materials located on Mr Plunske's property which violate

applicable zoning regulations, according to Mr Walsh.

The town began the legal proceeding against Mr Plunske last November. The

Plunske property has been the site of zoning violations for years, Mr Walsh

said.

The town won a judgment against Mr Plunske in 1985. The town's complaint file

on the Plunske property dates back to 1970.

After all offending motor vehicles are removed from the property, the town

will pursue getting the building materials removed, Mr Walsh told Judge

Stodolink.

Court-appointed attorney William Donaldson represented Mr Plunske Monday

afternoon.

"This is still an ongoing violation," Judge Stodolink said. "But we are

chipping away," he added.

Mr Donaldson asked that the legal action against Mr Plunske be continued for

eight weeks to July 28.

The judge, however, decided to continue the matter seven weeks to July 21.

Mr Walsh asked that all remaining motor vehicles be removed.

But the judge said he wants to set a "realistic schedule" for vehicle removal.

Mr Donaldson asked that Mr Plunske be required to remove only "three or four"

vehicles during the next seven weeks.

"The town has put up with enough, your honor," Mr Walsh told Judge Stodolink

of its protracted efforts to get Mr Plunske to comply with the zoning

regulations.

"My client has been complying," Mr Donaldson said of Mr Plunske, noting that

Mr Plunske is elderly and has health problems.

Judge Stodolink decided that five vehicles must be removed by July 21.

Mr Donaldson noted that some of the vehicles on the Plunske property are now

listed for sale.

"We'll do our best to comply with the court's order to remove five," Mr

Donaldson told Judge Stodolink.

After the five vehicles are removed, the remaining vehicles also must be

removed, or they must be registered and insured and properly stored, the judge

said.

Following the court proceeding, Mr Nicholson said, "We're making progress and

you can't argue with progress. We're getting there."

Besides the various court appearances in the case, the town has issued Mr

Plunske various cease-and-desist orders in an effort to resolve the vehicle

storage problems.

After the court appearance, Mr Plunske said he keeps the vehicles at his

property so he can work with them there. Some vehicles are needed for spare

parts for other vehicles, he said.

Because the vehicles are unregistered, they cannot be legally driven on

publicly-owned streets.

Mr Plunske's son, Raymond A. Plunske, III, attended court with his father.