Bettendorf board of adjustment approves variance for auto service at 2710 State Street

The Bettendorf Board of Adjustment on July 9 approved a variance to reduce the front-yard setback adjacent to 27th Street at 2710 State Street from 20 feet to 5 feet, allowing owner Brian Grimens of Sean's Auto Service to build a 30-by-50-foot garage bay. The motion to approve, which included a requirement for a screening fence along 27th Street, passed with three yes votes.

Staff presented the case and recommended approval. Jack Alice, the city’s GIS intern who presented the staff report, said staff found the encroachment was not self-created and would not significantly alter neighborhood character; he also cited variance criteria under the referenced code ("IO code 414Point12"). "The staff recommends approval of the variance," Jack Alice said. Staff noted the lot is shown on the future land-use map as community commercial and is currently zoned C-2 (general business), and that the proposed maintenance bay is permitted in the C-3 district.

Applicant Brian Grimens, who identified himself as the owner of Sean's Auto Service, told the board the expansion would ease current parking and operational pressures at the shop. He said the business now processes about 25 to 35 cars a week and that the addition would allow the shop to move an estimated minimum of five more cars per week, potentially generating "an additional $24,000 a month in revenue," he said. Grimens also said he planned exterior improvements and had discussed beautification grant opportunities with staff.

Staff recommended a screening fence along 27th Street because residential (R-4) uses are adjacent to that side of the lot; staff also said a 35-foot vision-clearance triangle from the alley must be maintained and noted existing curb cuts and egress that would remain in place. After discussion about egress and the location of curb cuts, a board member moved to approve Case 26-025 — including the fence requirement — and the motion was seconded. During roll call, three board members (Springer, Tansy and Vermillion) voted yes, and the chair declared the case passed.

After the vote, Grimens asked whether the fencing must be installed before construction or could be installed after the building is completed because of construction-damage concerns; staff advised him to coordinate timing with city staff. With no further business, the chair thanked the presenter and adjourned the meeting.

The decision is a variance approval by the Board of Adjustment; any required permits, final engineering, or building inspections remain the applicant’s responsibility and were not resolved at this meeting.