Councilman Allowed Illegal Auto Repair Shop on His Property

Fullerton Councilman Chris Norby allowed an auto repair shop to operate out of his garage for four years in violation of city codes, Fullerton officials said Tuesday.

Mayor Richard C. Ackerman, in expressing his disappointment, said that it was not the first time that Norby has used “poor judgment.”

Ackerman said Norby came under fire several years ago for allegedly misusing the city seal on a personal newsletter.

Fullerton code enforcement officials said Tuesday that Norby was notified April 8 that a commercial repair and restoration business was operating illegally from his garage at 214 N. Yale Ave. Norby was told that he must stop all auto-related activities, remove all stock and equipment and convert the garage back to its original condition, according to Development Services Director Paul Dudley.

City codes specifically prohibit automotive repair activities in residential zones and forbid property owners from renting parking space to non-residents without a conditional use permit.

The garage has been rented for six years by John Hale, a 61-year-old retired bus driver, former Marine and a racing enthusiast who restores Model T cars.

Hale said he first rented the garage in 1982 and the lease continued when Norby acquired the property in 1984.

“He (Norby) had no objection” to the shop, Hale said. “In fact, it was one of his tour sites for out-of-town visitors.”

However, Norby said Tuesday that he was unaware that activities at the garage violated city codes and said he believed Hale--whom he described as a “neighborhood institution”--was causing no harm.

Norby said that he would not have allowed the business to remain if he had known that it was illegal, adding that he stopped collecting the $185 monthly rent when he became aware of the violation.

City officials have given Hale until June 1 to move out.

“Here was an old retired gentleman who worked on old cars and had friends over and was very prominent in Model T circles,” Norby said. “He said it was a hobby and I didn’t see it as a business. If this hobby went over the line then so be it, but I think a reasonable, conscientious person might see the situation like I did.”

But Mayor Ackerman said Norby had used “poor judgment” in allowing the lease to continue.

Council members “are assumed to know a certain amount about the laws of this city,” Ackerman said. “I was extremely disappointed when I heard about it. It gives the appearance of someone on the council thinking they are above the law.”

Ackerman said other council members were informed of the violations last week, but he added that the council has not decided whether to censure Norby.

Ackerman also pointed out that Norby, elected to the council in 1984 and up for reelection in November, had used questionable judgment in printing the city seal on his newsletter.

“Several council members talked to Norby about this and he eventually stopped,” Ackerman said. “But the impression we got was that once he was elected to the council, he thought he could wield a lot more power.”

Norby, a teacher at Brea-Olinda High School, acknowledged that he used the seal at one point but said that at the time it was “legitimate to do so because it was not used on the masthead but only on articles about the city.”

“People can judge how serious something like this is,” Norby said of the code violations.

“I don’t think it will severely hinder my chances of getting reelected because I think I have built a reputation for being a conscientious and honest person.”

Hale has participated in a number of city events with his cars. He said he will try to find another location for his shop, adding that he collects and trades Model T parts at swap meets but does not charge his customers, most of whom find out about him through Model T clubs and magazines.

He said he had invested about $45,000 in thousands of parts for the old cars and called the shop a “labor of love.”

“It’s just too bad something like this had to happen,” he said. “I really think Councilman Norby didn’t know this was violating city codes and I certainly didn’t. But right now, it just feels like six years of my life was thrown out.”