Lorenzo council approves ban on commercial auto repair in residential areas after resident complaint

The Lorenzo City Council on Sept. 22 approved an amendment to the city’s zoning ordinance to prohibit commercial automotive repair in residential districts after a resident described safety and nuisance problems at a neighbor’s property. Council closed the public hearing and, in a special meeting that followed, voted 4 in favor with one member absent to adopt the change.

Resident Dana Cunningham told the council she regularly drives by the property and that the vehicles and equipment on or beside the house obstructed sight lines and blocked the roadway. "I have almost had three wrecks since they have been doing that and it is not safe," Cunningham said, adding that emergency vehicles might not be able to get through if needed. Council Member Cheryl Birdwell moved to approve the amendment and Council Member Janet Peterson-Gonzales seconded; the motion passed by voice vote, recorded as four in favor and one absent. The transcript describes the item as an amendment to exhibit 14A of the zoning ordinance; it also lists two different ordinance numbers (transcript references ordinance no. 050908 and later records Ordinance Number 250908), and the effective date or implementation details were not specified in the public record.

The change responds to a resident complaint that framed the issue as both a public safety and neighborhood character concern. The city did not record additional detail in the minutes about enforcement steps or timelines; council did not specify when the amendment will take effect.