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Tooele planning commission approves conditional use permit for H & G Auto Repair at 355 N. Garden St.
Summary
The Tooele City Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit for H & G Auto Repair to allow vehicle service, repair and limited sales at 355 North Garden Street, with conditions to limit long‑term storage, require paved surfaces to protect groundwater, and require fenced storage for vehicles awaiting repair; the motion passed 7‑0.
The Tooele City Planning Commission voted 7‑0 on Jan. 28 to approve a conditional use permit for H & G Auto Repair at 355 North Garden Street, authorizing automobile service and repair, and automobile sales and rental, with conditions to limit long‑term vehicle storage and protect groundwater.
Planning staff presented the application and recommended approval with eight conditions. Mr. Agard, the city planner presenting the item, said the property is in the GC General Commercial zone and that an impound or exclusive vehicle storage yard is not a permitted use: “A vehicle storage yard or an impound lot is not a permissible use in this zone,” he said, and staff emphasized that only vehicles awaiting repair or sale may be stored on site. Staff also recommended pavements or other measures to prevent vehicle fluids from leaking into the soil, noting that “Tooele City gets most of its water from groundwater supplies.”
Commissioners sought clearer language to distinguish vehicles displayed for sale from vehicles awaiting repair and whether numeric limits (a maximum number or percentage of the lot) should be imposed. Commissioner Linford, citing industry experience, suggested a possible split of property use (for example, a 50% repair / 30% sales split) and recommended hiding longer‑term storage behind fencing while keeping sale vehicles visible. Staff responded that fencing and limits tied to “vehicles awaiting repair” are enforceable and that the Tooele City Fire Department review and code enforcement would address access and safety concerns.
During the public hearing, neighbor Bob Johnson said he largely agreed with the proposed conditions but worried about fire‑department access if dozens of cars accumulated, and asked whether landscaping and lighting would be required. “We get a fire back there. How are we gonna access it to control fire and manage that aspect of the business?” he asked. Staff and commissioners said fire‑department requirements and site design (striping/parking) will factor into any mitigation.
Commissioner Jensen moved to approve the conditional use permit (application no. 2026004) on the findings and conditions in the staff report, amending condition 7 so that vehicle storage areas for vehicles awaiting repair shall be fenced with solid, view‑obscuring fencing (excluding vehicles for sale and customer vehicles). Commissioner Sloan seconded. The commission recorded the motion as passing 7‑0.
The permit approval includes conditions requiring building permits for any remodel, compliance with public works and fire department requirements, paved or equivalent surfacing to limit fluid infiltration into soil, low‑glare site lighting if sales occur, and that the site not operate as an impound lot; staff said it will enforce the conditions through code enforcement. The applicant on the record was represented in motion text as Abner Santos of H & G Auto Repair.
The commission moved on to routine council reports, approved the Jan. 14, 2026 meeting minutes and adjourned.
Next steps: the conditional use permit takes effect per city procedures and will be enforced by city staff and the Tooele City Fire Department; the record includes application no. 2026004 and the conditions as amended by the commission.
