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Planning commission approves CUP and setback variance to allow vehicle sales at 1790 Gervais Court East
Summary
The commission approved a conditional use permit and a setback variance allowing Horizon Real Estate (Horizon Tire and Auto) to add motor-vehicle sales at 1790 Gervais Court East, subject to conditions including a limit of 12 vehicles for display and a requirement to obtain city business licensing.
The Maplewood Planning Commission voted on Nov. 18, 2025 to approve a conditional use permit and a setback variance for a proposal to add motor-vehicle sales to Horizon Tire and Auto at 1790 Gervais Court East.
Planning staff member Elizabeth explained the site is just over two acres and currently operates as a motor-vehicle maintenance garage. She said vehicle sales and outdoor display would require a CUP and a setback variance because portions of the site are closer than the code-prescribed distance to property planned for residential use. Elizabeth summarized parking and operations: the repair shop has four service bays, the applicant anticipates hiring two to three employees over time, and the plans identify 36 parking stalls with 12 stalls proposed for vehicle display along Highway 36-facing areas of the lot.
On conditions, staff said the CUP limits displayed vehicles to 12: “The applicant may have up to 12 motor vehicles displayed for sale,” Elizabeth said, and the property owner must contact the city’s licensing division to obtain any required business licenses (condition number 10). She also told the commission that the project review team — including fire, engineering and building officials — reviewed the proposal and raised no objections based on the materials submitted.
Commissioners asked whether vehicle display placement or appearance is designated; staff said the approved display area is shown in the site plan and any modification would require an amendment to the CUP. A commissioner asked about hazardous-waste disposal from repair operations; staff replied that disposal and certain environmental licensing are handled by county and state authorities and that project reviewers considered the site’s existing operations.
A motion to approve the CUP was moved and seconded and carried by voice vote; commissioners then moved and approved the requested setback variance. Commissioners discussed local pronunciation/spelling of the adjacent street name (transcript references both "Gervais" in the application materials and a local pronunciation that sounds like "Jarvis/Jarvey"). No recorded 'no' votes appeared in the transcript.
The commission approved the CUP and variance with conditions (including the 12-vehicle display cap and licensing requirement); any future changes to the display area or additional vehicles would require an amendment to the CUP and additional city review.
