Lomira Planning Commission Recommends Denying Automotive Mechanic Business in Residential Area

The Village of Lomira Planning Commission held a meeting on Wednesday, November 19, to discuss granting a conditional use permit to a resident to conduct an automotive mechanic business from their residential property.

Conditional uses on R-2 Residential zoned properties permitted with board approval in village ordinances include, but are not limited to, churches, municipal buildings, daycare centers, and “home occupations when such occupations are incidental to the residential use of the premises and do not involve any exterior alteration that would affect a substantial change in the residential character of the building.”

During the public hearing that preceded the meeting, some residents spoke in favor of granting the permit request, speaking to the character of the requester.

“He is a wonderful guy. He’s helped all of our neighbors,” said a neighbor of the permit requester. “He’s helped us massively with our vehicles. He’s always given the shirt off his back, no matter what’s happened. He’s just a great guy. I very much endorse him being able to have his business.”

Other residents and local automotive business owners cautioned the commission against granting the request due to the proposed residential location and the nature of automotive businesses.

“For the past five years, we have put significant investment, time, and renovation into purchasing a commercial property to run our automotive repair business. We both fully support new businesses in the village. I think that’s a positive thing. I think that if this business was on a commercial property, we would welcome it wholeheartedly,” stated one mechanic business owner. “As owners of an automotive business, we understand firsthand the things that are required. There is parking for vehicles, increased traffic for drop-off, parts deliveries, and tow trucks. There is storage for hazardous waste. There are increased fire safety risks associated with the storage of those materials. . . It’s just not a business that seems appropriate for a residential property. It’s something that is considered commercial and industrial.”

“As the public, I would urge the board to ask: hours of operation, cleanup, fire safety of it, fire safety to the surrounding homes, chemical disposal, chemical care, and drainage in the facility, all things that I am being held responsible for,” added the spouse and business partner of the previous speaker. “Those are questions I would consider, just so we are all being held to the same standard.”

The permit requester was given the opportunity to present his business plan during the Planning Commission meeting that followed the public hearing.

“As far as fire safety, I do have fire extinguishers in the garage. There is no drainage in the garage, so there’s nothing getting into the sewer system. I do have containers for used chemicals that I am getting quotes on from local recycling companies to dispose of those coolants, oils, and stuff like that,” said the permit requester. “As far as hours go, I typically don’t work past six o’clock. It’s very part-time for me. I do have a full-time job. . . It’s usually a couple of hours after work and maybe on a Saturday during the day, so it’s not interfering with noise ordinances. I haven’t had any complaints from the neighbors.”

After the presentation concluded, the commission asked the requester questions largely relating to safety.

“What would you do if you had a major spill of some kind of chemical?” inquired Richard Pribnow.

“I use Oil-Dri. If that’s something of major concern, I know they do make absorbent wools and snakes I can purchase to have at the ready,” answered the permit requester.

The residential garage where the business would be located has not yet been fire-inspected.

“That’s one thing that I would ask the committee,” stated Fire Chief Kurt Haefs. “I feel he should be held the same as Trailside and Lomira Auto and everyone else. They are making great strides to make their business as safe as possible. I feel if he’s going to be an auto body shop, even if it’s in a residential area, that he should have to [be fire inspected], especially being so close to residential homes.”

Jim Koenigs made a motion to recommend that the village board deny granting the conditional use permit, which passed 5-0. Don Luedtke and Jessica Loomans were absent from the meeting.