Over neighbors' objections, special use permit issued for major automotive repair business

The Greenville Board of Adjustment unanimously approved a special use permit for a major automotive repair facility to operate on West Fifth Street over the objections of two property owners.

The facility will operate at 1721 W. Fifth St., the location of a former car wash, located next to the Citgo Gas Station at the corner of West Fifth Street and Memorial Drive.

Lead Planner Bryan Jones said Mohamed Mohamed wants to operate a tire/body shop at the location. While selling tires is a commercial activity, which is permitted under its current downtown commercial fringe zoning, the automotive repairs that occur in a body shop are classified as major automotive repair and require the special use permit, Jones said.

The city’s code requires major repair facilities to follow 16 specific criteria, including screening wrecked vehicles from adjoining property and the street right-of-way, storing the vehicles in the rear of the property and storing vehicles for no more than 16 days, specific criteria for selling vehicles and display products, limiting the maximum outside storage of tires to 300 or less, criteria for displaying tires and the spacing and placement of tire racks.

Jones also recommended additional criteria be added:

Submittal of a site plan since the property’s use in changing. A stormwater management and erosion control plan may be needed.Screening vehicles from nearby properties and the street right-of-way.The property can’t become a junkyard, automobile graveyard or materials reclamation facility.

Mohamed Mohamed, with assistance from his son and business manager Haroom Mohamed, said he plans to renovate the former car wash, initially installing retractable doors on two bays and renovating the office so it has a restroom and waiting area.

He said no tires will be displayed outside, because they will be kept in one of the closed bays.

Adjustment board members had questions about the screening requirements. Haroom Mohamed said there is already fencing separating the car wash from adjacent property. Donald Taylor, a principal and manager of Taylor Capital LLC and owner of neighboring Taylor Warehouse, said those fences belong to him and the Mohameds need to install their own screening.

Because the board of adjustment is a quasi-judicial board, meaning its decisions can be appealed in Pitt County Superior Court, the board had to decide who had standing to oppose Mohamed Mohamed’s request.

Ray Rogers, a deacon with New Dimensions Community Church, wanted to speak on behalf of the church and its building’s owner, James Tetterton. Tetterton, who lives outside Pitt County, wrote a letter giving Rogers permission to speak on his behalf. He also gave permission to Trudy Gulley, a real estate agent and the church’s property manager, to speak on his behalf.

Taylor was given standing as the owner of a warehouse structure next to the car wash property. Gulley also was given standing to speak as Tetterton’s representative. Rogers wasn’t granted standing.

Taylor said he was worried the repair shop would become junky and no one from city government would enforce the conditions and criteria set out in the special use permit.

Taylor submitted information about a property he owns on Dickinson Avenue that is next to property that is run down. Taylor said city officials talk to the property owner but no real change occurs.

Adjustment board members debated if Taylor’s information should be considered. It was ultimately decided because Mohamed wasn’t involved with the Dickinson Avenue problem, the information didn’t apply.

Gulley said the church’s parking area shares the car wash’s property line. There are concerns about people hiding in the cars stored in the rear and it creating a safety problem.

Haroom Mohamed said his father will follow the city’s requirements and make sure the property is safe.

The board unanimously voted to approve the special use permit.

Assistant City Attorney Donald Phillips said because opponents presented contested facts, he had to write a decision documenting the facts. The document has to be reviewed and approved by the board of adjustment before the special use permit can be issued, he said.