Planning commission recommends council approve Chosen Motors conditional use permit

The Sandpoint Planning & Zoning Commission on Nov. 18 voted to recommend that City Council approve a conditional use permit allowing Chosen Motors to relocate its used-car sales operation to 1213 Highway 2.

City planner Bill Dean told the commission the parcel is in the Commercial C zoning district where vehicle sales are allowed with a conditional use permit. Dean said staff recommended conditions including an amended site plan showing on-site parking, restriping so all parking is on the parcel, removal of chain-link fence slats (or painting them black), adherence to the city's dark-sky lighting standards, and planting roughly 18 square feet of landscaping at the front of the building to meet the city's parking-lot landscaping requirements.

Applicant Craig Leone described Chosen Motors as a small, part-time, debt-free, Christian-run used-car business that typically lists between zero and seven vehicles at a time and said he expects to be able to display up to 12 cars at the new site. Leone said signage would be painted on the building, consistent with a prior tenant's treatment.

With no public testimony, a commissioner moved to accept the CUP with the conditions recommended by staff; the motion was seconded and the commission voted in favor. Staff noted that Planning & Zoning makes a recommendation and that final approval will be taken by City Council.

The commission closed the hearing and moved on to subsequent agenda items.

The planning staff will include the commission's recommendation in the council packet when the city schedules the Council hearing.