Planning commission approves motor‑vehicle repair and sales at industrial site after owner agrees to restripe and assign parking spaces

The Lincoln County Planning Commission approved two conditional use permits for a light‑industrial site west of the City of T — one allowing motor‑vehicle repair and one allowing motor‑vehicle sales — after the property manager agreed to restripe and number parking spaces and to work with staff on enforcement.

Toby Brown, county planning staff, said the property (about 1.3 acres, zoned I‑1 light industrial) contains a building with multiple tenant units and that the county and the landowner’s representative had met to address concerns raised when a prior tenant’s permit was denied at last month’s meeting. Brown said the owner’s representative agreed to number parking stalls and to enforce parking assignments, which staff viewed as key to addressing earlier concerns about vehicles parked outside of designated spaces.

Anthony Kurwold, the property manager for S and O Building Corporation, told commissioners he has arranged for the parking lot to be restriped and numbered and that he will work to enforce the spaces: “I’m going to get the parking lot restriped and all numbered. I am just waiting, to make sure that that'll help solve everything.” Kurwold also said he would tow vehicles parked outside assigned spaces if necessary.

Brown recommended approving a single conditional use that covers motor‑vehicle repair for the entire property (rather than separate permits for individual tenants) to ensure consistent enforcement; he recommended the same approach for motor‑vehicle sales. Brown also told the commission that staff had discussed the approach with City of T staff and received no objections.

Commissioner discussion acknowledged continued reservations about repair shops in industrial areas but supported the approach because it gives the county clearer enforcement options and because the property manager agreed to the parking and upkeep plan. The commission approved both conditional use permits by roll call. Commissioners Sweeter, Otten, Boots and John Lee voted yes on both items.

The approvals include the staff conditions listed in the reports (eight conditions for motor‑vehicle repair; nine for motor‑vehicle sales). Brown said the motor‑vehicle sales approval will void an earlier conditional use permit (conditional use 06‑16‑2020 or similar historic permit) so the county can enforce a single, updated set of conditions across the building. The county will monitor compliance and the property manager said he will take active steps to keep the site orderly.

These conditional use approvals allow the uses under county zoning rules but do not replace license or other regulatory requirements that individual businesses must meet.