The Garland Plan Commission on Oct. 27 approved a 15‑year Specific Use Permit (SUP) to allow a minor automobile repair use at 4134 Bobtown Road, a 0.34‑acre site that formerly housed a nonoperating car wash.

The commission voted 6–2 to approve the SUP with conditions limiting building height to 20 feet, prohibiting openings on the east and south sides except for required man doors, and requiring the applicant to work with city staff on landscape screening along the west, east and south property lines. Commissioners Cornelius and Jenkins voted no.

Planning staff, speaking for case management while the regular case manager was on leave, described the request as an SUP for a “minor repairs” auto shop and said the applicant’s concept plan showed three service bays, about 13 parking spaces and a small office. “This is for minor repairs. This is not working on engines or things like that,” the planning staff said during the public hearing, noting that the site would be reviewed in greater detail during the site‑permit process and could require a traffic statement at that time.

The applicant, Usama Dager, told the commission he intends to redevelop the unused car‑wash lot and operate an oil‑change, tune‑up and tire‑service shop, with no major engine work and no overnight vehicle storage. “We will make sure to follow all the guidelines and all the requirements by the Planning Department or any codes that the city of Garland require us,” Dager said. He said the new use would replace an “eyesore” structure and could reduce homeless encampment activity currently associated with the vacant building.

Staff said the site is zoned Community Retail (CR) and lies within an area the city’s comprehensive plan designates as a neighborhood center, a designation typically intended for retail and community gathering places scaled to adjacent residences. Staff said the auto‑centric use does not fit the long‑term comprehensive‑plan vision for a neighborhood center, but they remained neutral because of the small site size, the presence of other auto‑oriented uses nearby (gas stations and a car wash) and the fact the lot is currently unused.

The city mailed 40 notices and received eight written responses: four opposition letters from within the notification area and four additional responses from outside the notice area (one in favor from outside the area, and three opposed from outside). Neighbor concerns included noise, air pollution and odors associated with auto‑repair uses.

Commission discussion focused on whether the proposed use represented an appropriate interim reuse of a small, vacant property; how to minimize impacts on nearby residences; and how to make conditions enforceable. Commissioners supporting approval said the proposal would be an improvement over a vacant, deteriorating car‑wash structure and noted that the proposed bays face away from nearby homes. Commissioners in opposition said they preferred a different, less auto‑oriented use and were not persuaded the site’s long‑term role had been adequately protected.

The SUP includes these conditions as stated in the commission motion: a 15‑year permit term, a maximum building height of 20 feet, no openings (including windows or bay doors) on the east and south elevations except for required man doors to meet building code, and coordination with staff on appropriate landscape screening along the west, east and south property lines. The motion was made by Commissioner Perez and seconded by Commissioner Dalton.

If the permit is implemented, city staff said the applicant must obtain a site permit and comply with all applicable building and development code requirements; that review could include a traffic statement or additional requirements from Transportation if warranted.

Votes at a glance: The commission approved the SUP 6–2 (yes: 6; no: 2). Commissioners Cornelius and Jenkins recorded the two no votes. The commission did not adopt additional changes to the concept plan beyond the SUP conditions.

The applicant and staff will proceed through the site‑permit process, where building elevations, detailed landscaping, and operational details will be reviewed and enforced by city staff.