Commission recommends approval of Caliber Collision parking deviation after discussion of shared parking and storage screening

The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of a parking deviation for a proposed Caliber Collision auto‑body and paint shop, after hearing staff analysis, an applicant representative and commissioner questions about shared parking, outdoor storage and screening.

Cody Freeman, planner with the Planning Department, presented the MISC‑200003 Caliber Collision application and said the site is approximately 2.075 acres and that the existing building is roughly 29,084 square feet. The applicant requested a parking deviation because the town code’s calculation for an auto‑body use would require 116 spaces (1 per 250 square feet), with the town’s permitted 20% deviation lowering a minimum to 93. Cody said the applicant does not meet those numbers on site and proposes a total of 53 spaces: 22 existing on site, two proposed additional on site and 29 spaces provided through an existing shared‑parking agreement on the adjacent Chippen Hook addition.

Cody summarized the applicant’s supporting parking study: the engineer observed a smaller Caliber facility (about 15,000 square feet) in the metroplex and calculated peak demand for a facility of that size at 47 spaces; the applicant argued production capacity (paint booths and technician stalls) would be comparable, and therefore the proposed on‑ and off‑site total of 53 would meet expected demand. "The use being proposed, it's an auto painting or body shop use in our town code," Cody said in his presentation.

Applicant comments and security/screening

Heather Rimmer of Cross Development represented the developer and said the outdoor storage area for in‑process or stored vehicles would be fenced and gated. "They would all be fenced and and gated in," she said during questioning. Staff clarified the southern outdoor storage area would require masonry screening and a gate; some adjacent spaces are subject to mutual access easements and would not be fully gated but would be screened.

Shared‑parking and future risk

Commissioners asked whether the 29 shared spaces are currently designated and what would happen if the adjacent parcel is replatted or its tenants change. Cody explained the shared spaces are not currently painted or individually designated because the parcel shares parking across tenants; the existing agreement is indefinite and remains in place until the property owner seeks to replat, at which time replatting would need to address parking designation. Staff noted that if the adjacent parcel were replatted the town would require the parking issue to be resolved before accepting a new plat.

Conditions and enforcement

Staff told the commission that the parking deviation approval would be conditioned on the applicant later submitting a full site‑plan project application for review of screening, fencing, gates and other site details. Cody also described the town’s code enforcement approach to vehicles left on site beyond allowable storage time — vehicles left longer than the code’s limit could trigger an outdoor‑storage code violation and enforcement process.

Vote

A commissioner moved to recommend approval of the MISC application as written; another commissioner seconded. In roll call the participating commissioners voted as follows: Commissioner Yostis — Aye; Commissioner Langley — Aye; Vice Chair Hobbs — Aye; Commissioner Geddes — Aye; Commissioner Abayick — Aye; Commissioner Schultz — Aye. The motion passed unanimously among voting members present.

Why it matters: The commission’s recommendation will go to town council for final action; the deviation permits Caliber to use less on‑site parking than the ordinance calculation would require, relying in part on an off‑site shared‑parking agreement and a fenced outdoor storage area for vehicles awaiting work or pickup.

Ending: Staff and the applicant said the full site plan will return for administrative and technical review, at which time screening, gate design and any parking‑designation measures would be finalized and inspected prior to issuance of certificates of occupancy.