Leo Regis Roy
1900 - 1989
Junkyard
Sometime in March 1952 Leo Roy filed for a permit to operate a junkyard off Strawberry Field Road to the police department in Warwick, Rhode Island. After review by the city solicitor the junkyard had been operating for the last 12 years illegally. The permit needs to be reviewed by the Warwick zoning board. The property being used as a junkyard is zoned residential.
The zoning laws were changed in 1945 and the junk ard may have been conforming to use on the land. However no license was issued so the junkyard was operating illegally.
The Building Inspector said an exception will be necessary from the zoning board in order for the junkyard to continue. If Leo Roy does not file a petition for the exception, the matter will be referred to the police department to make sure the junkyard does not continue.
Leo Roy formally filed an exception for the junkyard on Friday, April 11, 1952. He just met the deadline to file a petition that will be reviewed at the zoning board’s next meeting on April 28.
The land where the junkyard is located is 54 acres. Currently the junk has been spread loosely over the acreage. The junk will be moved to an isolated section on the land where there is a pit. The pit was created when gravel was taken.
The junkyard has been run by Lawrence Anthony of Providence. Once a license is obtained the junkyard will be operated by Leo’s son, Emil. The junkyard will be combined with the gravel pit which has been operating continuously for many years.
Leo Roy owns the land on Strawberry Field Road along with his brothers Louis, Napoleon and Eugene. It has an 1158 foot frontage and extends back from 1600 to 1900 feet. It is located close to the state airport and city dump. According to Leo Roy, “This land is fit only for industrial or business use and I want to clean it up and use it as such.”
Leo Roy was the administrator of this father’s estate that was recently settled. His father, Alfred Roy, died in 1938. Leo Roy retained a 50-foot right of way from Strawberry Field Road to his share of the property in the rear where the gravel pit is located and where he intends to relocate the junk.
A petition protesting the licensing of a junkyard off Strawberry Field Road was sent to the Warwick Zoning Board. 45 neighbors signed the petition opposing granting a permit to operate the junkyard. Rene L. Boucher of 65 Endicott Road started the petition. That road currently runs next to the Post Office located on Strawberry Field Road.
The Warwick Zoning Board unanimously denied the permit for the junkyard. Two attorneys were at the meeting representing nearby property owners and St. Rose’s church of Greenwood. Six nearby property owners were also there voicing their objections. Four persons did respond to requests indicating favorable sentiment.
Leo Roy filed an appeal in Supreme Court seeking to overturn the Warwick Zoning Board decision. His lawyer filed the following:
- The hearing on April 28 was illegally conducted since sworn testimony was not taken
- The decision denying Roy a residential B exception was “arbitrary, unauthorized and in violation of the state and federal constitutional provisions forbidding depriving a citizen of property without due process of law.”
- The junkyard, since it had been in operation prior to adoption of the city zoning ordinance in 1945, is a nonconforming use
Also his lawyer filed a restraining order preventing the city from continuing its current action to stop Roy from operating the junkyard.
This was filed sometime during the end of May 1952.
By August 8, 1952 the land had been sold to a real estate developer for $32,000 ($381,000 in 2024). 47 acres were sold by Leo and his two brothers Napoleon and Eugene. The other brother Louis owned the other 7 acres where he lived in a house with his children. That house was located at the corner of Strawberry Field Road and Endicott Road. The house is no longer there. That land is part of the parking lot for the Post Office.
Google Maps
Sources
“Leo Roy Asserts He Plans To Move Junk Out of Sight”, The Evening Bulletin, Providence, Rhode Island, Thursday, April 24, 1952, page 5.
“Leo Roy Sells Disputed Land”, The Evening Bulletin, Providence, Rhode Island, Friday, August 8, 1952, page 5.
“Ordered to Halt Junk Business”, The Providence Journal, Providence, Rhode Island, Thursday, May 1, 1952, page 17.
“Permit Sought for Junk Yard”, The Evening Bulletin, Providence, Rhode Island, Thursday, April 3, 1952, page 2.
“Petition Opposes Roy’s Junk Yard”, The Evening Bulletin, Providence, Rhode Island, Monday, April 7, 1952, page 2.
“Roy Files Appeal Against Ruling”, The Providence Journal, Providence, Rhode Island, Friday, May 30, 1952, page 3.
“Warwick Zone Procedure Explained by Bartlett”, The Evening Bulletin, Providence, Rhode Island, Friday, April 4, 1952, page 5.
“Zoning Board Denies Junk Yard Permit”, The Evening Bulletin, Providence, Rhode Island, Tuesday, April 29, page 2.
1950 United States Federal Census, Census Place: Warwick, Kent, Rhode Island; Roll: 5047; Page: 20; Enumeration District: 2-34, Roy, Lewis A head