Warrenton planners approve Gear Head Garage conditional use and site plan with parking and outdoor-storage limits

The Warrenton City Planning and Zoning Commission on May 2025 recommended approval of a conditional use permit (CUP 100) and an associated site plan (SP 180) for Gear Head Garage, a proposed 2,250‑square‑foot vehicle service and repair shop at 719 Veterans Memorial Parkway East, subject to conditions limiting overnight parking and outdoor storage.

Planning and zoning officer Burks said the application and site plan were consistent with the city comprehensive plan and city code and that his report would be entered into the record. Engineer Bart Corman of Lewis and Bates said the building includes three service bays and that the site currently shows three customer parking spaces at the front and six marked spaces behind the building, with room on gravel areas for additional stacked parking if needed.

The applicant, Lauren Lockhart, identified himself as the property owner and said the business would shift from a drive‑through service format to a repair shop. Lockhart outlined typical hours: “we arrive between 07:30 and 8AM, open officially at 8AM, and we close at 5 Monday through Friday. Saturday, typically, we do shorter hours anywhere from 9 to 3. Closed on Sunday.”

Commissioners focused discussion on where vehicles awaiting parts or extended repairs would be stored and on preventing the site from appearing as a junkyard. Commissioners asked that the front three bays remain available for in‑and‑out customer parking during business hours and stay empty after hours, and that there be no outdoor storage of derelict vehicles, parts, chassis, or stacks of tires visible on the lot.

Corman said he could “add 2 to 3 on the east side of the building” and about three more spaces behind the building while still maintaining the 26‑foot drive lane the city’s fire and parking requirements require. Commissioners included a condition that the applicant add at least three additional parking spaces as practicable while complying with the 26‑foot drive lane.

Commissioner Costello moved to recommend approval of the conditional use permit with the conditions described; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Cullum. The commission approved the CUP by roll call, 6‑1 (three commissioners absent, one vacancy); Commissioner Cornell cast the sole no vote. The commission then approved the related site plan SP 180 with the same conditions by a 6‑1 vote.

The conditions noted by the commission were entered into the record: the three front spaces are to be reserved for customer parking during business hours and left vacant after hours; no outdoor storage of derelict vehicles, tires, parts, chassis or similar materials visible on the lot; and the applicant shall provide at least three additional off‑street parking spaces where feasible while maintaining the required 26‑foot circulation lane.

The commission’s action is a recommendation and the site plan and permit record will move forward per the city’s approval process.