WELDA — Anderson County Commissioners are looking at the county’s zoning laws as a way to force the owners of a burned-out former restaurant along US-169 in Welda to clean up the property. The Anderson County Review reports the county wants to force property owners to clean up the mostly destroyed remains of the former highway-side diner and steakhouse. The business, which consisted of two structures, including a 1950s metal-frame diner, was destroyed by fire in early February. Anderson County Commission Chair Eugene Highberger told The Review that what’s left is an eyesore. The county is also pushing to clean up a property near Lone Elm, where a house was destroyed by arson several years ago, he said. The home’s owner was convicted of arson and insurance fraud. Under county rules, Zoning Director Jay Velvick says he can send a letter to the Welda owner at the end of a six-month period following the fire. The six-month period isn’t up yet, he said. He says a letter is usually enough to prompt a cleanup.
Updated 7/16/13 @ 12:15 am
