The Denison Planning Commission on July 22 recommended approval of a conditional use permit to allow an automotive repair shop at 1201 South Austin Avenue, subject to conditions intended to protect the street appearance and adjacent residences.

Planning staff said the property is in the Austin Avenue overlay and is already zoned commercial, but the prior automotive use had lapsed and the zoning ordinance requires a new conditional use permit. Staff asked the commission to include conditions addressing landscaping, screening, on-site parking and prohibiting open storage of immobile vehicles. "We're asking that they install those planters closer to the frontage of their existing structure to satisfy that landscaping requirement," Planning staff said.

The property owner, Moss Yousef, told commissioners the building has been vacant about a year and that he had signed a contract with a tenant; he said he expects the tenant "to do the exact thing" the city requires and that he would be involved as property manager. Staff noted the proposed parking layout appears to provide one ADA space at the front and parking on the south and north sides, and asked that no parking be located in the city right of way.

A commissioner moved to recommend approval of the CUP with the conditions described by staff: front landscaping planters outside the right of way, screening between the property and western residences, on-site striped parking located outside the right of way, and a prohibition on open storage of immobile vehicles or vehicles awaiting repair. The commission voted in favor and the recommendation will go to City Council for final action on Aug. 4.

Staff said the certificate of occupancy will not be issued until required screening, parking and other conditions are verified.