Planning board approves Class 3 home-occupation permit for Belfast Tire & Auto

The Belfast Planning Board approved a Class 3 home-occupation permit on June 26 for Belfast Tire & Auto at 129 Waldo Avenue, allowing the applicant to formalize an expanded on-site auto-repair business with staff limits and conditions. Applicant Raymond Buzzel described repairing vehicles in a three-bay garage he restored after purchasing the property; he said business growth requires adding another technician to help daily operations.

Planning director Bob Forner reviewed the home-occupation standards under the Route 137 Mixed Use Zoning District: Class 3 approvals allow up to three nonfamily employees on-site; the board found the site can accommodate the proposed parking, and the applicant agreed to relocate an office trailer to meet setback requirements. Forner noted the lot is an existing nonconforming situation in some respects and that the board should ensure conditions on operating hours, parking configuration, and site maintenance are clear.

The board discussed hours and agreed to record the applicant’s advertised hours (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.) while also acknowledging occasional after-hours or Saturday work may be needed for urgent vehicle service. Parking was addressed in detail: staff measured sufficient room to support the applicant’s request and determined the site could provide up to six business parking spaces plus resident parking, consistent with class-3 limits; the board required configuration and signage to be shown on the approved site plan and for at least one ADA-accessible space and route to be provided.

Noise performance standards were explained (a 60-decibel threshold in the code for certain contexts); board members observed that ambient traffic on Route 1 may already be higher than that level and noted the code structures for enforcement should complaints arise. Conditions adopted require the applicant to reconfigure parking as shown on the approved plan, relocate and permit the office trailer in the approved position, maintain utilities and snow removal, and comply with accessibility and local code requirements.

After deliberation the board voted to adopt findings, approve the conditions and grant the Class 3 home-occupation permit. The applicant was directed to obtain Code Enforcement Officer permits for the trailer and to maintain parking and site conditions as specified.