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Resident seeks to operate small vehicle dealer from residential lot; commission outlines license and fence requirements
Summary
A Huntington resident asked to register a dealer address behind his home to buy vehicles for his company; commissioners said a city business license, state dealer paperwork and a 6-foot obscuring fence or equivalent screening would be required and gave guidance on next steps; no final action was taken.
A Huntington resident, identified in the hearing as Hector, told the planning commission he wants to establish a dealer address behind his house so he can buy vehicles for his company and occasionally sell them to others.
Hector said he does not intend to operate a large public-facing lot: "The purpose is just buy my own vehicles for my company," he told the commission. He said he would likely store only a few vehicles on the rear lot rather than dozens.
Commissioners and staff told Hector that a commercial automotive use in a residential zone would require a city business license in addition to the state dealer license he said he already holds. They outlined the city's recent practice for automotive uses: a 6-foot, non-see-through fence and screening are typically required so vehicles are not visible from the street; corner-lot visibility rules can limit how much fencing is allowed at the property corner.
A staff member noted the city has required obscuring (screened) fencing for similar uses in recent years and that state automotive regulations also apply. Commissioners discussed fencing configuration (whether fencing must go all the way around or only on some sides) and confirmed that the city's approach has been to require screening where the use is visible to the public. Hector estimated he might store two or three vehicles on the lot; commissioners said that level of storage would still require compliance with fence/screening and licensing requirements.
Outcome: Commissioners did not vote on the item. They advised Hector to apply for a city business license and to return with specific plans that show the proposed vehicle storage, fencing and screening. Staff also suggested alternative sites outside city limits if he wanted a location without the city's fencing/screening constraints.
Next steps: Hector was instructed to file the city business-license application and provide a site plan showing proposed vehicle locations and fencing/screening; the commission will reconsider the request after the applicant submits the required paperwork.
