Hillsborough Township officials and two companies have settled seven municipal court summonses for alleged zoning violations tied to an early-morning fire at an industrial-zoned lot at 321 Valley Road on Dec. 3.
At 1:27 a.m., responding police officers found what officials said was an expansive staging area on the Hercules Enterprises property, with hundreds of salvaged cars parked there. About 15 to 20 cars burned.
The agreement, approved by the Township Committee on Tuesday night, said CoPart of Connecticut, Inc., and Hercules Enterprises agreed to correct the alleged violations by March 29.
CoPart is a tenant on the site owned by Hercules, Zoning Officer David Kois said.
Mr. Kois wrote summonses accusing both of creating an unreasonable potential hazard, use of the site without a zoning permit, and storage of hundreds of inoperable vehicles, he said. Hercules was also charged with running a prohibited use in the zone.
Police’s preliminary investigation showed that an auto salvage company, CoPart Salvage Auction of Camplain Road, Hillsborough, leased the property to store vehicles.
Hercules and CoPart filed with the Board of Adjustment for an appeal and interpretation of zoning rules, but the case was adjourned to April 3.

