A vacant downtown property in Frankfort is set to return to use after the Board of Zoning Appeals approved a request for a commercial garage and auto sales operation at its July 8 meeting.
The Frankfort Board of Zoning Appeals on July 8 approved a request to reopen a long-vacant property at 452 N. Main St. as a commercial garage with limited vehicle sales, clearing the way for a new local business to operate in a building that previously housed an auto service use.
The petition, filed by Avery Burrells of Precision Auto Care, sought two special exceptions—one for a commercial garage and another for automobile sales—within the city’s central business district. Board members voted unanimously to approve the request with conditions following a brief public hearing in which no residents spoke.
“This is an application for a local business that wants to follow the regulations and locate in a business district in a building that has served a similar purpose in the past,” staff planner Liz told the board. She added that “having the building used would definitely be better than allowing it to fall into disrepair.”
Background and proposal
According to the staff report, the site sits at the southwest corner of North Main and West Jefferson Streets in a mixed-use area that includes nearby homes, apartments and commercial properties. While the building had historically been used as a commercial garage, it has been vacant for more than a year, causing its prior nonconforming status to expire under the city’s Unified Development Ordinance.
Burrells’ plan includes reopening the building for vehicle repair and adding a small-scale auto sales component. Proposed improvements include repainting the facade, installing signage, adding an ADA-accessible parking space and constructing a screened rear storage area with a privacy fence. No expansion of the building footprint or parking lot is planned.
Board members clarified that the proposal is limited to the existing structure. “They’re staying within the existing building,” staff said. “They’re not planning to change the size and shape of the parking lot either.”
Conditions and concerns
The approval comes with several conditions aimed at maintaining safety and compatibility with surrounding properties. Among them:
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A limit of six vehicles displayed for sale at any time
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Requirements that vehicles and parts be stored on-site and screened from view
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Prohibition of outdoor storage of discarded auto parts
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Closure of two curb cuts near the Main and Jefferson intersection to improve traffic safety
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A requirement to bring portions of the parking area into compliance, including adding green space and pavement improvements within three years
Staff also recommended changes to parking layout to ensure vehicles do not encroach into the public right-of-way. “They will have to move…parking back a few feet,” staff noted, citing areas where gravel currently extends into the street right-of-way.
Utilities and environmental reviews did not raise major concerns, though the business must complete an oil-water separator inspection before receiving a certificate of occupancy.
Applicant comments
Burrells told the board she had already scheduled that inspection and hoped to move forward quickly if approval was granted. “He told me that he had no reservation with us moving forward with opening our business right away after we got approval,” Burrells said of discussions with sewer maintenance staff.
City officials indicated the inspection documentation could be submitted as part of the permitting process without significantly delaying occupancy.
Decision
With no public opposition and staff recommending approval, the board voted unanimously in favor of the petition.
“I’ll make the motion that we recommend to approve this special exception based on the findings of the staff report and with the conditions listed,” one board member said before the vote.
The decision allows Precision Auto Care to proceed with permitting and inspections, with city staff noting they would work to “get you moving as quickly as we can.”
The meeting adjourned shortly after the vote.