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Applicant seeks special-use permit for home-based auto repair; commission schedules public hearing
Summary
Donald Applegate applied for a special-use permit to operate a commercial garage and auto-repair business from a residential property on East James Anderson Highway. The planning commission voted unanimously to move the application to a public hearing March 24, 2025, and asked for site and operations details at that hearing.
Donald Applegate, the applicant, asked the Buckingham County Planning Commission on Jan. 27 to schedule a public hearing for a special-use permit to operate a commercial garage and auto-repair shop from property on East James Anderson Highway.
The request covers tax map 138, parcel 39 (about 2 acres) at 17534 East James Anderson Highway in the Kurzeville District. Applegate told commissioners he plans to run “an inspection center, and... an honest auto repair business,” and said his garage is behind the house and can accommodate vehicles out of view from the roadway.
The planning commission pressed Applegate for operational details. Commissioner Pete asked, “So where exactly is your garage?” and pressed him for the correct street number after an initial discrepancy in addresses; Applegate clarified the garage is behind his house and indicated the driveway rises and hides the garage from the road. Commissioners asked about hours (Applegate said Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., to comply with inspection-facility requirements), vehicle size (he said “nothing larger than like an F-350”), and handling of used oil and other waste (Applegate said he would store fluids in industrial plastic barrels and “have somebody come pump it out”).
Commissioners also asked about on-site capacity; Applegate said there is room to park about 15 vehicles behind the garage. After questions, the commission voted to advance the application to a public hearing at the regular meeting on March 24, 2025, at 6 p.m. The motion to move the application forward passed unanimously.
At the public hearing the commission will expect clarity on the precise site address and parking layout, waste-oil disposal arrangements, and any required inspections or certifications for an auto-repair facility. The applicant was present and agreed to the public-hearing schedule.
The planning commission took no final approval or denial on the SUP at the Jan. 27 meeting; the vote forwarded the matter to a public hearing where permit conditions and any public comment will be considered.
