Commission recommends city allow two auto repair shops

The Hoschton Planning and Zoning Commission met Monday and voted to recommend the city council allow two automotive businesses on Pearl Industrial Avenue under certain conditions.

Both votes were unanimous, with all commission members present. The city council is expected to review the zoning issues at its next meeting on Jan. 31. A vote is expected to follow at another council meeting Feb. 4.

The commission’s votes followed two public hearings on the requests, which were similar.

In the first request considered, Ed Quirk asked the commission for a conditional use at 130 Pearl Industrial Avenue for an automotive sales and repair facility.

Guy Herring, Hoschton’s contract planning director with McFarland-Dyer and Associates, recommended the commission pass the request for automotive repair only.

The commission followed Herring’s suggestions and stipulated that the business not be allowed to sell cars, harbor junk vehicles or conduct repair work outside the building.

The same conditions were applied to the second request considered.

Robert Gresham asked that his property on Pearl Industrial Avenue receive a conditional use for an automotive repair facility. The business, Six Grand LLC, specializes in manufacturing transmissions and has taken on more repair work because of the economy, Gresham said.

“This is just a way to get them more business,” Gresham said, “so they can pay me, so I can pay you.”

Both properties are zoned for light industrial businesses and labeled in the future land use map as “employment centers.”

There were no general questions, complaints or comments of support.

However, Quirk did ask why “sales” were not allowed. Herring told him that such a business would fall under a different zoning category.

At Quirk’s request, the board added a condition for his business. He asked to build a privacy fence (six-foot minimum) toward the back of and around parts of the building on the property. He said the land in the back would be conducive to parking cars and such a fence would keep them from being visible from passersby.