The Denton Planning and Zoning Commission denied a specific use permit to allow for major automotive repair work to be done at a 2-acre property near the Central Village Estates neighborhood at a May 27 meeting due to concerns over noise and resident quality of life.
The overview
Body shop Le Collision Center applied for the permit to allow for major auto repair work at the location near Fort Worth Drive since current zoning does not allow for it. The current property is zoned for general office use, which allows for light automotive work, like tire and oil change shops, Denton Assistant Planner Matt Bodine said.
Major automotive repair work includes painting, according to a presentation from Bodine. Painting is a necessary part of body work, the project’s engineer of record Dewey Lewis said at the meeting.
“Painting would be a central part of the business,” Lewis said. “You have a car that’s involved in a collision and there’s all kinds of things wrong with it. The frame needs to be straightened out, head lights need to be replaced, tail lights, et cetera. You’ve got to paint it.”
The body shop currently operates in Duncanville, according the the company’s website.
What they’re saying
Several neighborhood residents spoke in opposition to the permit out of concern over noise, potential negative impact on property values and environmental pollution.
“A major automotive repair operation brings with it constant commercial activity, industrial noise, increased traffic and environmental concerns,” resident Avery Davis said. “Automotive repair shops are inherently noisy businesses.”
Commissioner Lisa Dyer moved to deny the request.
“I’ve got some serious concerns about just the proximity of this business to the residents and what the environmental fallout could be,” Dyer said.
