Lewiston Board of Appeals approves home-based used-car dealership at 23 River Road with conditions

The Lewiston Board of Appeals voted June 3 to grant a conditional-use permit allowing a home-based used-car dealership at 23 River Road, approving staff-recommended conditions intended to limit noise, water use and traffic.

Staff presented the application and recommended approval with specific conditions. "We recommend approval of the application with the conditions linked below in the suggested motion," the Director of Planning and Codes told the board, summarizing staff findings that the property is a 1.44-acre lot with a two-unit dwelling and that the ordinance permits automobile sales as a home occupation when standards are met.

The staff memorandum listed the proposed restrictions: no more than one vehicle displayed in the driveway at a time; vehicle advertising online and a small sign meeting ordinance standards; visits by appointment during hours of operation; no new structures or additional impervious surface; and clarifying conditions about vehicle washing and detailing. Staff noted discrepancies in the application about garage square footage and whether detailing would occur on-site, and recommended conditions that would require the applicant to clarify those details before issuance of the home-occupation license.

Applicant Saif Adnan said he intends to sell vehicles from the property, buy and clean cars off-site and list them for sale. "The cars won't be washed at home due to noise disturbance or water usage," Adnan said, adding that routine cleaning inside the garage would be limited to light interior cleaning (windows, vacuuming) and that any exterior washing and shampooing would be done at a local car-wash facility.

Board members questioned traffic and operations. Staff said the applicant estimated additional traffic of about 40 to 200 vehicle trips per year (less than one per day), and that code enforcement would monitor actual impacts; the staff recommendation noted that if increased activity is observed, enforcement could follow. One board member raised concerns after observing several vehicles on the property during site visits: "I drove by the 23 River Street, and there was 5 cars in the yard today, and there was 7 there yesterday," the member said, arguing that observed vehicle counts could indicate a larger operation than proposed.

On scope of on-site work, the applicant said no mechanical repairs or grinding would be done at the residence; any inspection or repairs would occur at off-site shops in Portland and Lewiston. The application referenced one to two employees, but home-occupation standards limit non-family employees to one; staff noted that because the participants are family, the restriction should not pose a problem if at least two of them reside at the premises.

After deliberation, a motion to grant the conditional use permit with the staff-recommended conditions passed on a roll-call vote: Matthew Doyon — yes; Walter Shostak — yes; David Projansky — yes; Bernard McAllister — yes; Melanie Dorn — yes; William Coffin — no; Rilwan Osmond — yes. The board chair noted that at least four affirmative votes were required and the motion carried.

The board directed staff to ensure the conditions were clarified in the home-occupation permit process (including updating the garage square footage used for the business and specifying that washing/detailing will be off-site or limited to the interior garage). Staff said code enforcement will follow up if the property generates more traffic or display vehicles than allowed under the permit.

The applicant thanked the board for the hearing. The board closed public comment, moved on to remaining agenda items and confirmed staff will contact the applicant about next steps.