Planning commission approves Teeter Automotive special use with parking and landscaping conditions

The Montgomery Planning and Zoning Commission voted to approve a special use permit and variances for Teeter Automotive, allowing the motor-vehicle repair business at 2235 Cornell Avenue to continue operating with limited outdoor storage and reduced off-street parking requirements.

Staff told the commission the building is roughly 7,000 square feet and that the unified development ordinance requires two parking spaces per 1,000 square feet (about 14 spaces). The property currently has 11 spaces. Staff recommended approval with conditions including a landscape plan to screen vehicles stored in the front yard, hours limited to Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and required fire-district sign-off if building permits are needed.

The decision comes after neighbors raised concerns about the number of vehicles parked on Cornell. Dave Hallman, a building and landowner on the street, told the commission, “It’s too many cars already. It’s not an automotive area,” and expressed worries about noise, theft and converting front yards to parking. Harry Icosidecas, owner-operator of LFG Garage and a nearby business owner, said he had not heard complaints from neighbors and described a recent instance where Teeter allowed him to temporarily park a car overnight without incident.

Trenton Teeter, owner of Teeter Automotive, told the commission the shop is primarily a custom operation and that most vehicles are stored indoors. He said the business has four employees, indoor capacity of about 12–13 bays and uses overflow parking at a nearby Superior Beverage property that staff said provides about 10 off-site spaces. “Ever since we were brought that to our attention, we have fixed all those parking issues,” Teeter said, asserting there have been no citations since compliance efforts.

Commissioners discussed enforceability. Legal staff and enforcement staff said zoning compliance typically proceeds through an adjudication process if conditions are violated; immediate fines are generally limited to certain property-maintenance matters. To address enforcement and neighborhood parking concerns, the approved motion added conditions requiring the business to limit parking to the existing 11 on-site spaces and to maintain an off-site parking arrangement that provides the same number of spaces as currently agreed with the off-site property.

The vote to approve the special use and related variance passed on roll call with the voting commissioners recorded as voting yes. Staff said the item will appear before the Village Board on Monday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. for final action.

The commission’s conditions emphasize screening, restricted hours and an off-site parking agreement; they did not change the underlying land-use designation. The approval authorizes Teeter Automotive to continue operating subject to the stated conditions and applicable permit reviews.