The Warrenton City Planning & Zoning Commission on Tuesday unanimously recommended approval of multiple applications for Dobbs Tire and Auto Center, advancing a proposal for a vehicle service center along State Highway 47.

The commission voted 9‑0 to recommend rezoning ZC‑78 (a 3.02‑acre tract at 601 North State Highway 47) to C3 Highway Commercial and to approve both the Conditional Use Permit (CUP‑99) and the site plan (SP‑178) for the proposed Dobbs facility. "It's a roughly 9,000 square foot, Dobbs Auto Center ... 10 bays for auto service, 79 parking spaces," project engineer Brandon Harp said during his presentation.

Why this matters: The approvals clear the way for an auto service center on a high‑traffic highway corridor and align the southern parcel's zoning with an adjacent C3 parcel, creating a consistent commercial frontage along Hwy 47. The proposal includes measures for stormwater detention and utility extensions that affect nearby infrastructure.

Project details: Harp told commissioners the combined parcel after the boundary adjustment would total about 7.52 acres, with the Dobbs facility sitting near the highway front. The site plan shows a building with 10 service bays, 79 parking spaces, one access point onto State Highway 47 (MoDOT has approved that access in writing), an 8‑inch water main extension under the street and a fire hydrant at the site's edge. The project includes a stormwater detention basin to the west and two retaining walls to level portions of the site.

Conditions and hours: Counsel and staff explained that the approved site plan will be tied to the CUP, making landscaping and planting plans enforceable conditions of the permit. Project representatives said typical hours are early morning through evening (commonly starting around 6 a.m. and finishing by roughly 9 p.m.), and that they can return to the commission if substantial changes are proposed.

Votes and next steps: The commission's unanimous recommendations are advisory; the Board of Aldermen is scheduled to review the applications on Dec. 17. Project representatives and the architect, Kate Mitchell of Arc Images, were thanked and welcomed to the community at the close of the meeting.

Public record: The Planning and Zoning Officer made the publication notice, city comprehensive plan and city ordinances part of the record by reference for the public hearings.