Petersburg council keeps special-use permit for West Washington auto business, warns owners on future violations

PETERSBURG, Va. — The Petersburg City Council on Feb. 18 voted to deny a staff- and Planning Commission-backed proposal to rescind a special-use permit for a vehicle rental and auto-repair business at 1036 West Washington Street, saying the property has since addressed cited violations but imposing a clear warning that future breaches will bring revocation back to the council.

Naomi Seidmock, Director of Planning for the City of Petersburg, told the council that the special-use permit in question — originally approved in 2012 for Michael and Nina Stanley — was the subject of repeated violations, including inoperable vehicles left on site for longer than three days and outdoor storage of car parts and tires. She said zoning staff worked with the owner starting in July, issued violation letters and eventually pursued the rescission route when compliance did not occur in a typical enforcement timeline. "As of 01/29/2025, all staff's violations that were noted have been addressed," Seidmock said.

Staff and the Planning Commission had recommended revocation because, Seidmock said, the violations persisted long enough that the special-use permit process — the citys tool for addressing use-specific conditions — was appropriate.…