Planning committee hears proposal for used auto sales and tire shop at 1475 Massillon Road

The Akron City Council Planning Committee on Thursday heard a conditional-use request to allow used auto sales at 1475 Massillon Road while retaining recently approved tire sales and service on the parcel.

Planning staff told the committee the property, owned by petitioner James Ahlstrom, contains two buildings: a roughly 2,000-square-foot brick main building and an approximately 875-square-foot metal accessory building. Staff said the main building contains a garage bay door that would be used for vehicle sales and tire installation and repair. "The proposed reuse of the land as a used auto sales dealer along with a tire repair shop is consistent with other surrounding businesses in the area along Massillon Road," Antonucci said, and both planning staff and the planning commission recommended approval subject to conditions.

Staff described the proposed site layout: "There will be a row of about 7 vehicles for sale set between the curb cuts along Massillon Road. Approximately 15 additional vehicles will be parked south of the building near the corner of Toombs Drive and Massillon Road." The petitioner described hours of operation as Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Staff recommended a landscape buffer between the two curb cuts and said a 6-foot-tall fence should be installed along the east property line to screen nearby residential properties.

A nearby committee member, McKitrick, addressed recent property improvements that neighbors praised: "They have done some quite a few improvements to the property. Some of the grading was done cleaned up and the lighting has been improved on the property there. I've had some calls from some of the neighbors that were really happy about the lighting." No members of the public registered opposition during the hearing.

The committee closed the public hearing and invited the petitioner to return for the committee's 5 p.m. meeting, when the committee will make a formal recommendation to council either in favor of or against the conditional-use request. Planning staff recommended approval subject to the conditions noted in its report.