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Council approves online-only used-car lot; grants zoning relief on utilities for same parcel
Summary
The council approved a conditional-use permit for Surprise Auto Network's online-only used-car operation at a triangular vacant parcel near Grand Avenue and Santa Fe Lane and granted relief from a code requirement to place adjacent utility lines underground, citing limited frontage and probable economic hardship.
The El Mirage Common Council voted Feb. 3 to approve a conditional-use permit for an online-only used-car sales business and separately approved a zoning relief request tied to the same parcel.
Planning staff described the site as a triangular, undeveloped parcel (listed tentatively as 12289 Northwest Grand Avenue) within the urban corridor and downtown rehabilitation plan. Jose, the city planning staff member who presented the item, said the proposal limits the on-site inventory to a maximum of ten cars, requires an on-site office open for a few hours on weekends to meet ADOT/NVD paperwork requirements, and prohibits on-site mechanical work, washing, painting or bodywork. Staff recommended stipulations including annual inspections.
The applicant, identifying himself as Syed, told council the business model is online sales only; mechanical work and vehicle preparation would occur at off-site shops in Phoenix and cars would be brought to the El Mirage lot for display and sale. "It's only online ... sometimes I'm going Saturday, Sunday. I have to go in 2 hours," Syed said, adding that moving the business to El Mirage would bring sales tax revenue to the city.
Council members praised the creative use of a constrained parcel and expressed support. Vice Mayor Parsons moved to approve the conditional-use permit; Council Member Norton McDaniel seconded the motion and the council approved it by voice vote.
Later on the agenda, the council considered a separate but related request for relief from Chapter/Section 152.03, which generally requires relocation of overhead utilities underground when adjacent to a new development. Staff identified three utility poles adjacent to the lot and argued the project involves limited frontage (under roughly 107 feet), and that undergrounding would require relocating lines across Grand Avenue, the canal and the BNSF railroad, a distance staff estimated at about 300 feet and which APS reportedly would not budget for given the small site. Staff characterized the cost and scope as an economic hardship for the applicant.
Vice Mayor Parsons moved to approve the zoning relief; the motion carried with one recorded nay. Staff will proceed with annual inspections and site-plan review as conditions of approval.
No specific vote-by-name tally was recorded in the hearing minutes; council recorded approval by voice vote for the conditional use permit and an approval with one nay for the utility-relief item.
