Plan Commission approves special use permit for Luxe Auto Service at 335 Washington Avenue

The La Grange Plan Commission voted to recommend approval of Plan Commission case PC 291, a special use permit for Luxe Auto Service to operate a general automotive repair shop at 335 Washington Avenue, Unit A.

Staff presented the application, describing the proposal as an appointment-only repair shop focused on European and luxury passenger vehicles, operating Monday–Friday 9 a.m.–6 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m.–2 p.m., staffed by one full-time employee. Staff said the unit will not perform truck repairs or outdoor dismantling and that all repair work is proposed to occur inside the building. The site is in a light-industrial future land-use area and staff concluded the use is compatible with nearby industrial tenants if building- and environmental-code requirements are met.

The commission’s discussion centered on circulation, parking and pedestrian safety. Staff reported the existing lot has 20 spaces but is not configured for two-way circulation; the applicant’s restripe would create 14 spaces (the mix of uses requires 13). Staff recommended a 36-inch striped pedestrian walkway on the north side of the building prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy.

Commissioners asked whether the narrow paved area north of the building provided access to Washington Avenue and whether it was wide enough to be a drive aisle. Staff said the paved area was roughly 11 feet (the applicant later estimated 12–14 feet) and reiterated the walkway requirement. Several commissioners urged protective measures to prevent vehicles from entering the pedestrian path; one commissioner proposed bollards as a way to allow pedestrian access while blocking cars. Staff confirmed the commission may require bollards or similar protections as a condition.

Applicant Samuel Lian, owner of Luxe Auto Service, was sworn and described his business as appointment-only and gated. “We are gonna be by appointment only… it won’t be much of, like, high traffic coming in and out of the property,” he said, adding that he will not perform painting or heavy/truck repairs and typically would have three to four vehicles on site with one- to two-day turnaround times.

Commissioners modified staff’s original condition language to address esthetics and operation: the commission agreed to keep the 48-hour limit on outdoor storage (storage defined as parking any vehicle for longer than 48 hours) but to clarify that exterior bodywork or painting is not allowed, that repair operations must take place inside the unit, and that the pedestrian walkway be striped and protected (bollards or similar) to prevent vehicular access. Staff also reiterated that repairs must be limited to passenger vehicles.

A motion to approve PC 291 with the staff-recommended and commissioner-adjusted conditions was moved, seconded and approved on a roll-call vote with all commissioners voting in the affirmative. Staff said the commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the village board in August for final action.

The permit will be issued for the sole benefit of the applicant and is transferable only with village board approval; staff will enforce building-code and environmental controls as part of business-license review.