Planning commission recommends approval for Flow dealerships— outdoor display expansion on Route 29

The Albemarle County Planning Commission on Oct. 28 recommended approval of a special-use permit to expand outdoor vehicle display and sales for Flow Automotive at 960 Hilton Heights Road, the site of Flow Subaru, Flow Honda and the Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram showroom.

Senior planner Chris Taggart told the commission the request would convert a portion of existing landscape along the frontage into paved display parking and triple-stacked vehicle storage. "Motor vehicle sales is a by-right use in the zoning district, but the outdoor display is a special use," Taggart said, adding that the Architectural Review Board reviewed the proposal and recommended no objection to the special permit if the ARB—s standard conditions are included. Taggart said the applicant acquired a little over a third of an acre of former VDOT right-of-way to accommodate the expansion.

Why it matters: The property sits in the Entrance Corridor/Overlay area, where outdoor display is subject to the county—s…