Stafford commission grants specific use permit to Colony Auto Group with screening and plan-review conditions

The Planning & Zoning Commission voted to grant a Specific Use Permit allowing automobile sales at 9731 Mueller Road, the site operated as Colony Auto Group. Staff said the site is about 0.66 acres with a 12,000-square-foot warehouse and described a history of operation as Colony Limousine before shifting to motor-vehicle sales in 2019. Staff noted it could not locate a certificate of occupancy in city records but that receipts and inspections existed; staff recommended approval with conditions including screening vehicle display areas from the public right-of-way, a full plan review and change-of-use submittal, and compliance with building and fire marshal requirements.

Applicant Hamid Mirabi told commissioners he has been in Stafford for 21 years and that his operation is "more like a showroom than a dealership," with vehicles stored inside the gated warehouse. "I'm Hamid Mirabi, 54 years old, proud father, proud businessman, been in Stafford for the past 21 years," he said, and asked the commission to weigh his long-standing presence and record of inspections. Commissioners asked how vehicles would be screened and whether typical used-car-lot features (pole lights, flags) would be used; staff and the applicant said screening would be required and that the change of use triggers plan review that could impose further operational limits. After deliberation, a commissioner moved to approve the SUP; the motion was seconded and carried. The approval is conditioned on the screening and required plan-review steps before a certificate of occupancy or change-of-use may be finalized.