Commission recommends concept plan for Springs outlot auto‑repair (Beltire) with one‑year approval condition

The Lockport Planning & Zoning Commission on May 13 recommended approval of a concept plan for a 9,800‑square‑foot auto‑repair building (Beltire/Bell Tire) on Lot 4 of the Springs Apartments development, with the recommendation conditioned to be valid for one year.

Staff said the site (≈1.59 acres) is zoned C3 Highway Commercial and that the concept meets landscape and facade material standards; at final development the applicant must seek a special use permit for auto repair and a major change to the planned development. The applicant, Chris Enright of Contour Land Group, told the commission the site has about a 20‑foot grade change across it, requiring roughly 15,000 cubic yards of earthwork and retaining walls more than 10 feet high, and estimated about $1 million in grading and mitigation costs.

A submitted noise study was discussed; staff said potential operational noise will be about 60 dB for interior activity (below the site standard) and similar to or lower than existing noise from 159th Street (reported by staff roughly 71–72 dB along the south face). Commissioners questioned whether tow trucks would deliver vehicles after hours, fall‑protection at retaining walls (staff: fencing will be provided though not vehicle‑rated), rooftop mechanical screening and whether bay doors would generally be open or closed during operations; staff and applicant said operational details and equipment screening will be refined in final plans.

Commissioner Georgetti moved, with a second from O’Hare, to recommend approval of the concept plan subject to the one‑year condition; roll call: Quinn no; Calderon absent; Peters yes; Lyens yes; Mechek yes; O’Hare yes; Georgetti yes. The motion passed. The recommendation will go to council for review on June 3.