An existing Richardson car dealership, Clay Cooley Volkswagen of Richardson, plans to add vehicle storage areas, car service areas and storage areas on nearby property.

Richardson City Council approved three special permits for the dealership located within the Interurban neighborhood of the Core District by a 4-3 vote during the Sept. 23 meeting.

Council members Curtis Dorian, Jennifer Justice and Ken Hutchenrider joined Mayor Bob Dubey in voting for the project, while council members Dan Barrios and Joe Corcoran, along with mayor pro tem Arefin Shamsul voted against.

The big picture

The dealership plans to utilize three areas along Interurban Street between Davis Street and Jackson Street, City Planner Amber Pollan said. According to city documents, proposed development includes:

• An 18,000-square-foot lot that will be used for vehicle storage
• A 29,800-square-foot building that will be mainly used for file storage and additional body shop repair bays
• A building with 13,550 square feet for auto part storage and office space
• A detailing shop that occupies a building just over 5,700 square feet

Ed Hicks Jr., general manager for Clay Cooley Volkswagen Richardson, said the additional revenue from the expanded body shop will help cover operating expenses at the dealership. There are also plans to start out with 32 employees for the new site, but add a further 25 by early 2025, Hicks Jr. added.

Per stipulations outlined in the approval, the existing buildings on the site will receive a fresh coat of paint and a mural on part of the facade facing Interurban Street, designed to incorporate the expanded facilities into the surrounding Core District.

What they’re saying

Several business owners from the Core District spoke in opposition to the special permits during the public hearing on the case. Their objections included a car dealership’s lack of conformity to a revitalized Core District and its impediment to greater walkability in the area.

Council member Justice said the outlined vision of an auto repair use near downtown isn’t dissimilar to mixed-use areas cultivated in neighboring cities.

“This is not antithetical to what we’ve envisioned here,” Justice said. “This would be like downtown Plano, but better because we’ll have a mural and a paint job.”

Council member Barrios said he’d prefer for the city to be patient and see if more compatible development was proposed.

“The area just isn’t right, and I think we as a community can do much better,” Barrios said.

What else?

Hicks Jr. previously told the city plan commission that the dealership will clean the interior and exterior areas for the proposed development. The certification process for repairs is expected to take one or two months, Hicks Jr. told the commission.