El Mirage council approves conditional-use permit for Greenway Towing yard on Grand Avenue, 4-2

The El Mirage City Council voted 4-2 Tuesday to approve a conditional-use permit allowing Greenway Towing LLC to operate an outdoor vehicle storage and towing yard at 11925 Northwest Grand Avenue.

The permit, approved with required stipulations, covers roughly 0.2 acres (about 6,670 square feet) and allows outdoor storage of up to 16 vehicles on the lot, a 144-square-foot mobile office on site and shared customer parking. City staff recommended approval contingent on conditions including submission of permit-ready plans for screening walls, landscaping and the mobile office; an accessible path to the office; measures to prevent vehicle fluid leaks; and operational restrictions intended to limit noise, vibration and public nuisance.

The hearing drew residents and business representatives who raised safety, environmental and operational concerns. Steve Gilliam, a resident who spoke during call to the public, warned about the hazards posed by lithium-ion batteries and asked the council to require additional safeguards: “When they catch on fire, they would take all our resources from our fire department,” Gilliam said. Other residents raised similar worries about leaking fluids, groundwater protection and truck parking on Grand Avenue.

City staff presented the application and described the property as part of the mixed-use area of the city’s 2020 General Plan. Staff said the applicant’s site plan shows about 16 storage spaces inside a screened area, a mobile office and shared parking for customers and employees. Staff also told the council the Planning & Zoning Commission had recommended denial at its March 11 meeting by a 5-0 vote, citing concerns that the site was not suitable for the proposed operation; staff said the applicant removed vehicles and cleaned the site after that meeting.

An applicant representative told the council the business has reduced its on-site inventory, is transporting excess vehicles to a larger central yard in Phoenix when necessary, and averages about one to one-and-a-half tows per day under a contract with the City of Surprise. The applicant said most vehicles on site are stored for a very short time—about two days on average—and described security measures including 24-hour attendant coverage and cameras.

Council members debated proximity to residences, fire-safety risks with electric vehicles, and whether the business had violated local permit procedures by operating before obtaining the conditional-use permit. Councilmember Aldridge said she could not support the permit because of fire-safety concerns and the yard’s closeness to homes. Other council members, including the mayor and Councilmember Norton, said the site is already in an auto-service area and that the applicant has taken steps to address staff concerns. Councilmember Gentry moved to table the item for further review; the motion failed for lack of a second.

Vice Mayor Parsons made the motion to approve the conditional-use permit; the mayor seconded. The motion passed 4-2. The council and staff noted that the permit includes conditions and that the city code allows revocation of a conditional-use permit if stipulated conditions are not met.

The council directed that the applicant obtain required building, landscaping and screening permits and comply with the list of staff stipulations before operating fully. The city’s packet and the staff presentation list 11 stipulations; the council emphasized enforcement authority and follow-up inspections.