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Pembroke Planning Board denies special permit for automotive inspection at 1780 Main Road
Summary
The Planning Board denied Audrey Neyman’s special use permit for automotive inspection and light repair at 1780 Main Road on July 24, 2024, citing site-plan, parcel-configuration and neighborhood-impact concerns; the denial passed 6–1 after resident objections and a failed informal vote.
The Town of Pembroke Planning Board voted 6–1 on July 24 to deny a special use permit and related site plan for an automotive inspection and light-repair operation at 1780 Main Road, an Agricultural/Residential (AG/R) property owned by applicant Audrey Neyman.
The board’s consideration followed a County referral that recommended conditional approval with modifications, including combining the two parcels to meet frontage and setback requirements, an updated plan showing all vehicle and equipment storage and any proposed screening, setting operating hours to limit noise, and completion of the Environmental Assessment Form (EAF). Chairman David Knupfer said he visited the site and displayed photographs of vehicles on grass and in driveways.
Neyman, who attended the hearing, said the vehicles shown in the photographs had been removed, that cars for inspection would drive in and out, and that the operation would perform only light repairs — "mostly brakes" — and not oil changes. She said there would be a lift inside the building and minimal fluids to be disposed of, and that typical business hours would be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays.
Neighbors raised concerns about visibility from nearby homes, potential property-value impacts and the scale of the operation. One resident said the proposal resembled a full repair shop rather than a limited inspection facility. Residents also questioned enforcement: a board staff member said Zoning Law allows the board to limit unregistered vehicles on arterial highways in AG/R zones and to require that parts or dismantled materials be stored indoors or screened.
Board members focused on site-layout issues: whether the garage door was large enough for a lift, where cars would be stored while waiting for parts and whether the two parcels must be merged to meet zoning requirements. The board concluded it needed a detailed site plan and that the parcels should be combined; an informal roll-call vote failed (2 Ayes, 5 Nays). After closing the public hearing, the board approved a motion to deny the Special Use Permit. The motion to deny was made by Kyle Wruck and seconded by Thomas Marshall.
The denial leaves the property restricted to its current AG/R zoning; the board noted any future application should include a merged parcel map, a complete site plan identifying storage and screening, and a completed EAF.
