Northbrook panel recommends special permit for Carnegie auto sales at 3160 Commercial Avenue

The Northbrook Plan Commission voted to approve a resolution recommending the Board of Trustees grant Carnegie Inc. a special permit to operate a motor vehicle dealership with an open sales lot at 3160 Commercial Avenue, and to permit a parking variation that reduces the required 27 spaces to 24 and a loading-space variation eliminating a required loading space.

Senior planner Pandy told commissioners the property is zoned I-1 (restricted industrial) and that the motor vehicle dealership with an open sales lot is a special-permit use in that district. Pandy said the business had been operating on the site and had been cited for storing vehicles outdoors; the applicant filed the special-permit application after a preliminary review found the use otherwise appropriate.

Applicants Ilya Resnick and co-owner Sarish Schaub told the commission Carnegie operates as a boutique used-car dealership that generally stores inventory inside and moves vehicles outside temporarily for appointments or test drives. Resnick said the operation is appointment-focused and not a typical used-car lot…