Council amends special permit to allow Auto Beauty Specialists to store vehicles and parts at lower level of 1220 North Price Road

At a March 11, 2025 public hearing, the Olivette City Council voted unanimously to amend Ordinance 25‑65 to authorize Auto Beauty Specialists to use approximately 28,000 square feet of lower‑level indoor warehouse storage at 1220 North Price Road for vehicles awaiting repair and for boxed vehicle parts.

Carlos Trejo, the city’s planning and community development director, said the space is in a multi‑tenant building across the street from Auto Beauty Specialists’ existing facility at 1223 North Price Road. Trejo told the council the storage area is largely below grade, the building is fully sprinkled and staff and the fire marshal had walked the space to identify needed improvements. He said the use was compatible with the Light Industrial District zoning and recommended the council amend the original special permit as requested by the business.

Owner John Garber told the council the proposed storage would hold only cars and new parts in boxes; he said the company would not store paint or related chemicals in the lower level. Garber and staff indicated a new dock door and a drive to the new opening would be added to bring vehicles into the lower level.

The Planning and Community Design Commission recommended approval with conditions requiring the business to provide the city 30 days’ notice if the lease terminates or the use ceases and to submit a relocation plan for vehicles stored on the site before the city would rescind the amendment to Ordinance 25‑65.

Council member motion language tracked the amendment: "An ordinance to amend Ordinance 25‑65 … to include 28,000 square feet of lower level indoor warehouse storage space at the property addressed as 1220 North Price Road for the storage of vehicles awaiting repair and the storage of vehicle parts." The motion was seconded and approved on second reading; Bill 30‑40 became Ordinance 28‑10.

Why it matters: the amendment allows an established local collision repair business to consolidate storage needs into a lower‑level warehouse across the street, reducing outdoor vehicle storage visibility and providing indoor, sprinkled storage that staff said meets fire and building standards.

What council required: the approval includes the commission’s recommended conditions—30 days’ notice of cessation and a relocation plan for vehicles—and the city will maintain oversight through the special permit process.

Quotes

“This is a privilege to be here. We love Olivette,” owner John Garber said, adding that the storage will contain “cars and new parts in boxes. So no paints, nothing of that nature whatsoever.”