New Kensington council on Tuesday approved a Plum man's plans to sell motorcycles from the former NAPA Auto Parts store on Linden Avenue.
Nicholas Clista wants to formalize his business of selling motorcycles through Internet auction sites such as eBay. Clista's father, Michael Clista, owns the property and plans to lease the building to his son.
Clista's attorney, James Creenan, said Clista needs a state license to operate, and he needs a physical business address for the license.
Clista has said he plans to store the motorcycles inside, won't repair them on-site and will have minimal customer traffic because sales would be completed online.
Although Clista intends to keep his stock inside, Creenan said the state license for motorcycle sales requires outdoor display space.
Therefore, council granted Clista's conditional use permit allowing a maximum of 12 motorcycles to be stored outside at a time.
Clista indicated he expected to sell 10 to 15 motorcycles a month at most. He expects sales to taper off during the winter.
"It would not look like a used car lot," Creenan said.
At least one neighbor objected at a hearing last month, arguing the business could lead to noise, increased traffic and decreased property values in the residential area nearby.
However, Creenan noted Clista's business likely would result in much less traffic than the auto parts store. He said the business also is located beside recently widened Route 366, some industries and at least one neighbor who drives a motorcycle.
As a result, he was skeptical that Clista's business would create additional noise problems.
Council did not restrict Clista's hours of operation as they had previously discussed, but Councilman John Regoli said the city's noise ordinance would come into play if the business created a disturbance. Creenan said Clista does not intend to work late into the evening.
No one spoke in protest or in favor at Tuesday's hearing, which was continued from last month to provide Clista time to hire an attorney and compile a more formal business plan for council to review.
Infested house condemned
Council agreed to issue an emergency condemnation order for a residential property at 515 Linden Ave.
Code Enforcement Officer Pat McGrath said he was called to inspect the house after a complaint was filed about rodent infestation.
In addition to rodents, McGrath found an extreme number of cockroaches and fleas. McGrath said the exterminator called it the worst house he'd seen in 15 years on the job.
Since it is likely the pests will return in a matter of weeks and could spread, McGrath said the house is a public health hazard.
Additionally, a garage on the property has partially collapsed and the house's second-floor ceiling has caved in, leading McGrath to believe the structure is not sound.
City Solicitor James Kopelman said council had the authority to circumvent its more lengthy board of health process to condemn the property because it presents an immediate danger.
McGrath said he's had no response from the Utah company listed as its owner. County records indicate Go Invest Wisely of North Ogden, Utah bought the property in 2008 for $10,000.
There was no answer Tuesday evening at a telephone listing for the company.
The property is listed for sale for $7,500 on the craigslist.com website. It and several others in Western Pennsylvania were posted there on Monday by Sovereign Investment Group; no one responded to an e-mail request for comment Tuesday.
Kim McAfoose, executive director of the city's redevelopment authority, said the authority will oversee the demolition contract.
