DIFFERENCE OF OPINION: City Eyes Used Car Locations

— A difference of opinion over used car lots seemed to split the City Council and the Planning Commission, but members of both agree improving lot appearances is needed.

Commissioner Joel Kelsey was upset when the council reversed the commission in January to allow a car lot at 1486 Sunset Ave. The lot is owned by Jim Bob Duggar.

“Sometimes I feel like I’m beating my head against the wall,” Kelsey said.

AT A GLANCE

Zoning Lingo

The uses for Springdale’s Large Product Retail Sales zoning (C-6) include automobile sales, both new and used; automobile services, parking lots and the sale of large equipment, such as farm machinery.

Source: City Of Springdale

Granting a rezoning application to Duggar gives the appearance of favoritism, Kelsey said. Duggar is a former state legislator and on TLC’s reality TV show “19 Kids and Counting.”

The lot worked on its own merits, said Alderman Mike Overton.

“It seemed to be reasonable for the area,” Overton said. “It’s hard to turn it down when there are lots a couple of blocks away in both directions.”

A couple of blocks to the east is a car lot and an auto repair shop aldermen and commission members identified as problems.

Zamora’s Auto Exchange, 1321 W. Sunset Ave., and Ethan’s Auto Repair, 1324 W. Sunset Ave., seem to be in compliance with city regulations, said Alderman Brad Bruns. The businesses, at the intersection of Sunset Avenue and Pleasant Street, draw complaints however, he said.

“I get calls every week about that corner,” Bruns said. “I don’t think they could get more cars in there unless they stacked them.”

Some lots, Overton said, have vehicles parked so tightly that it’s almost impossible to get a car out quickly.

“You’ve got to be able to get them in and out,” he said.

A balance has to be struck between allowing opportunity for business and regulating businesses that harm the aesthetics of the city, said Mayor Doug Sprouse.

“A new business might not want to move in, if it looks bad next door,” Sprouse said.

Scott Porter, who owns Scott’s Motor Sports at 1100 W. Huntsville Ave., keeps his car lot in good condition as a way to increase business, he said. Porter installed shrubs and other landscaping along Huntsville Avenue, although the city was not requiring landscaping at the time, he said.

“I think it’s good business to look good and be neat,” Porter said. “It’s surprising how many people notice the lot when they drive by.”

Sunset Avenue has several businesses that need to look better, Kelsey said.

“I still look at Sunset as the major entrance to the city from the west,” he said. “We don’t need people to drive in and see it looking bad.”

The Planning Commission is not opposed to car lots, he said. The commission recently approved rezonings to allow used car lots at Cooper Lane and Thompson Street and at the old Fletcher Chevrolet dealership on Thompson Street.

The commission turned down a request at 909 S. Pleasant St. on March 1 for a rezoning that would allow vehicle sales. A used car lot previously operated at the location, which is on the northeast corner of Pleasant and Sunset, the same intersection as Zamora’s and Ethan’s.

John and Kay Lynn Looney didn’t realize they would have to rezone the property, said Kay Looney.

“When I bought this property, I thought it could be a car lot,” she said. “It had been a car lot. It’s always been a car lot.”

The previous business was a nonconforming use for its zone, said Patsy Christie, city planning director. Existing businesses are allowed to continue if zoning requirements change. The business had been closed longer than six months, ending the exception.

Car lots are only allowed to open in large product retail zones. The property on Pleasant was too small for the minimum size of that type of zoning. The commission did not approve a variance for the size.

Because the rezoning for the Duggar property was for an existing building, the city cannot require changes to the lot to make it look better, Kelsey said. Inside renovation was under way Thursday, but no changes have been made to the grounds.

Neither Duggar nor his son, Josh Duggar, the manager, were available for comment.

The city should look at regulations for lots, possibly to include setting a limit on the number of vehicles allowed to be parked on a lot, said Overton and Bruns.

The guidelines set by automakers for new car lots could be used to draw up the regulations, Bruns said. Any changes could come before the council ordinance committee, which is in the process of going through the city code to streamline city regulations, Overton said.

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