Commission approves conditional use permit for GVI Auto Group at 182 Millburn Drive with screening condition

The Twin Cities Planning Commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit allowing GVI Auto Group LLC to operate automobile body and fender service and repair at 182 Millburn Drive, subject to conditions requiring building and fire permits, view-obscuring screening for damaged-vehicle storage, and impermeable surfacing for any unpaved storage areas. The vote was 7-0.

City planning staff described the 4.9-acre site and an existing warehouse and noted that while auto repair and parts are permitted uses on the site, auto body repair requires a conditional use permit. Staff recommended approval with conditions including: required building and fire-permit compliance; screening of damaged-vehicle storage areas by an obscuring fence; paving of damaged-vehicle storage areas not currently on an impermeable surface; and that any future expansions receive site-plan approvals. Staff also reported a comment to the mayor from the president of Tooele Technical College expressing concern about visible damaged-vehicle storage.

Roman Gurlov, representing GVI Auto Group, told commissioners the business intends to keep most damaged vehicles inside the warehouse and described environmental precautions: "Our plan is to have damaged, cars mostly parked, inside inside the warehouse," he said, adding that vehicles would be disassembled and fluids drained when work is done to prevent spills. Gurlov also said the company wants to partner with Tooele Technical College to provide student training opportunities.

Commission discussion focused on the staff condition requiring "solid view obscuring type fencing." Commissioners and the applicant agreed that slatted (vinyl) inserts in the existing chain-link fence would provide the necessary screening without requiring a solid masonry wall. The commission directed staff to remove the word "solid" from the condition language and instead require view-obscuring screening; the motion approving the permit reflected that change.

The approving motion (application 2025070) referenced the staff findings and conditions, with amendment to strike the phrase requiring "solid" fencing and substituting view-obscuring screening; the motion passed 7-0. Commissioners observed the site already has chain-link security fencing and barbed wire and accepted slatted screening as consistent with prior approval practices for vehicle-storage yards.

The conditional use permit approval requires the applicant to obtain all building and fire-permit approvals and meet screening and surfacing requirements; staff will monitor compliance and any future site expansions will require additional approvals.