Board denies request to allow used-car sales at 908 N. Madison Ave.

The Greenwood Board of Zoning Appeals voted 4–0 on Feb. 9, 2026, to deny a use-variance request (VZA2025-047) that would have allowed vehicular sales at 908 North Madison Avenue, the site of an existing auto-repair business. The petitioner, represented by attorney Vincent Scott, sought permission for a small-scale used-car operation with an anticipated inventory of about 10–15 vehicles.

Board action followed more than an hour of public comment. Residents and elected officials urged denial, saying a used-car lot on the corner near Madison Avenue and Fry Road would harm the gateway appearance of Greenwood’s downtown entrance, risk pedestrian and vehicle safety at a congested intersection, and depress nearby property values. “Allowing the used-car sale on this corner would harm the visual character of the area and overshadow our beautiful paths and trails,” said Linda Gibson, a Greenwood resident and City Council member.

Vincent Scott, who said he represents owner Jonathan Moran of Vandy Auto Repair, told the board the business already operates on the lot and that sales would be limited and largely Internet-driven. “We don’t anticipate that at any time we would have more than maybe 10 to 15 [vehicles] on the lot,” Scott said, adding he did not expect a significant change to traffic flow.

Planning staff recommended denial after evaluating the five statutory variance criteria. Staff said the medium-commercial lot does not qualify for the larger commercial auto-sales use under the unified development ordinance, and that the request did not justify an unusual hardship. Staff cited likely negative impacts on aesthetics and neighboring property values and concluded the case did not meet the city’s adopted criteria for a variance.

Board members first moved to admit all documentary and testimonial evidence — including staff reports, maps, photographs, written remonstrations and witness testimony — into the record. After considering the record and public testimony, a board member moved to deny VZA2025-047; the motion carried on a 4–0 roll-call vote.

Votes at a glance (motions recorded in meeting): - Motion to deny use variance VZA2025-047 (allow vehicular sales at 908 N. Madison Ave): Mover — Mister Milborne; Second — Mister Peters; Vote — Peters: aye; Milborne: aye; Moll: aye; (fourth member): aye; Outcome — denied, 4–0. - Evidence/admission motion to incorporate all exhibits and testimony into the record for VZA2025-047: Outcome — adopted, 4–0. - Earlier in the meeting the board adopted findings or final actions for petitions BZA2025-043, PZA2025-044 and BZA2025-045 (each carried 4–0).

The board directed the corporation counsel to draft written findings of fact incorporating the staff report and evidence for the denied petition; those written findings will be presented for adoption at the board’s next meeting. Planning staff also encouraged public participation in Design Workshop No. 2 on the Unified Development Ordinance, which has an online component.

The petitioner acknowledged the board’s decision and thanked members for their time. The board adjourned the meeting following announcements.