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Planning commission backs rezoning for car-repair charity on Old Nashville Highway
Summary
Rutherford County planning commissioners recommended rezoning two parcels on Old Nashville Highway to Commercial General so Our Church Ministries Inc. can obtain a dealer address and expand vehicle repair, sales, and charitable giveaways; the recommendation was unanimous and goes to the county commission on Feb. 12, 2026.
Rutherford County planning commissioners voted Jan. 12 to recommend rezoning two parcels on Old Nashville Highway to Commercial General so Our Church Ministries Inc. can use an existing shop for vehicle repair and to store and sell donated and purchased cars.
Staff told the commission the smaller parcel at 6752 Old Nashville Highway is already zoned Commercial Services while the adjacent larger parcel at 6742 is zoned residential medium density; changing the larger parcel’s zoning to Commercial General would allow auto sales, which the applicant says is necessary to obtain a state dealer address and reassign vehicle titles. Staff noted that residential units on the larger parcel would become nonconforming uses that may continue so long as they are not discontinued for more than 30 months and that any redevelopment would require an approved site plan and required Type 2 buffering between commercial and residential properties.
Matt Taylor of SCC, the applicant’s representative, said his client purchased the property in December and has cleaned it up since then. "This zoning will help them further their mission and helping them get their car dealer license up at the state level," Taylor said. Property owner Brian Sweat said the organization, described in the record as "Mechanics on a Mission," gives away cars to veterans, single parents and other referred recipients and performs free repairs; Sweat told the commission, "This year, we gave away a 100 cars."
Commissioners asked staff and the applicant about paving requirements for sales/storage areas and buffering; staff said car-storage areas for sales must be paved and that buffering, landscaping and performance standards would apply on redevelopment. After a brief public-comment period in which Sweat described the charity’s operations and recent site cleanup, a commissioner moved to approve the request "considering the staff comments." The roll call vote was unanimous and the motion carried.
The planning commission’s recommendation will be submitted to the Rutherford County Board of Commissioners for consideration at its Feb. 12, 2026 meeting unless the applicant or the commission withdraws or defers the item.
