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Planning commission recommends rezoning for long‑running AutoTech at 8659 Cermak Road
Summary
The Joint Planning Commission recommended rezoning 8659 Cermak Road from B3 to B1 to regularize a decades‑old mechanic shop’s operations, finding the change consistent with the village comprehensive plan and posing minimal infrastructure impact. The item will go to the elected board for final action in mid‑June.
The North Riverside Joint Planning Commission voted to recommend rezoning the property commonly known as AutoTech at 8659 Cermak Road from B3 to B1, a change staff said would bring a long‑established mechanic shop back into conformity with the zoning code.
Peter Hughes, the village code administrator, told commissioners the site has operated as a mechanic shop for decades and that a temporary auto‑sales component added in 2022 made the business compliant with B3; reverting to a mechanics‑only operation requires rezoning. Hughes said staff had reviewed the five standards of review, found the request generally consistent with the March 16, 2025 comprehensive plan and recommended approval. "Based on my presentation, you can see that staff is recommending approval," he said.
Commissioners asked about bulk requirements, setbacks and whether rezoning would create new nonconformities; Hughes responded that the existing building meets bulk and setback standards and that rezoning would not create new nonconformities. The commission approved the motion by roll call (tally recorded as 6–0). The recommendation will be forwarded to the elected village board for a final decision expected at a June meeting, and staff noted the applicant may attend that hearing.
The vote follows staff findings that the site is compatible with adjacent car‑oriented uses on the Cermak corridor and that approving the rezoning would support a local, long‑standing business. No public commenters spoke in favor or against this parcel at the planning commission meeting.
