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Teague stated the parking stalls are unusual in that they are long. They are intended for double parking. An auto repair station is required to provide six spaces for off-street parking. The curbing is a requirement of the Code for these types of uses to provide area for greenspace and separation between uses. O’Brien asked about the curb cut. If the curbing is provided there and the driveway eliminated, what option is there for getting tanker trucks in there? Teague responded the trucks either have to come off of Old Highway 8 or come in from 5th Street. Livingston asked for comments from the public. The applicant was present. Howard Hermann, the applicant, stated the entrance he would like to block off is where all the truck traffic comes enters the site. When the City put in the sidewalk, the entrance was cut down by about ten feet. Hermann said he complained and they opened it another six feet, but the entrance is still not wide enough. The truck traffic that comes in now comes in off Old Highway 8. Hermann pointed to an area on the site plan and said it is all run over by trucks. Hermann said he has tried to keep the area in grass, but it is futile. Hermann stated that, if he had to eliminate this entrance, he could not sell diesel fuel. A 60-foot trailer could not swing and make that curb on 5th. To get out, they would have to go onto 5th and go around the block. Hermann said that currently the trucks come in and out of his business by 8th Street and back up to the sidewalk and exit on 5th Street. Hermann pointed out the truck flow on the plan. That is the only way to get in and out. US Tire and Exhaust trucks also have difficulty coming in off 5th Street. They are shorter trucks, but their tires still come over the curbing. Hermann said that would have to be made wider for the truck traffic to get in without going over the curb. Hermann pointed out an area on the site plan where he would have no objection to putting in curbing and green area. Hermann said that would improve the appearance of the area. Hermann stated the area from the edge of the building to J & B Auto has been gravel since he bought the business 18 years ago. Hermann pointed out where a semi-truck was parked for 18 years, but now that eyesore is gone. Snow removal is a problem. The site has no area for snow storage. Hermann reviewed his requests on the site plan. The business is very restricted as to parking area. Sometimes he has to use Jack’s driveway to get a car into the back of his site. Hermann showed the area where the proposed car wash would be located and how it would be accessed. Zisla said it seems that it may be better to put curbing in places where it will work and create some definition and not put curbing in places where it is being damaged by traffic. Zisla said he did not see what the City gains by having curbing between the alley and the lot. On the other hand, the comment about the green area makes sense. The definition between the two lots seems appropriate. Is there a way to change the driveway on the south? O’Brien asked if they could increase the size of the driveway where the curbing is being destroyed by trucks and decrease the other drive. Teague responded that, since this is a County road, it would be subject to approval by the County. The difficulty began when the County made the curb cut so small. O’Brien asked if Hermann had discussed this possibility with the County. Hermann responded negatively. Hermann said the County changed his driveways when they redid the street. Hermann said he did not know why the County did this. Zisla asked Hermann, putting the County’s actions aside, would O’Brien’s suggestion work? Would widening the driveway on the south and making the north drive narrower work? Hermann responded affirmatively. Zisla said, if the City wants to do this, the City should talk to the County. We should not ask the applicant to talk to the County himself. Livingston asked if that was where diesel customers entered. Hermann responded affirmatively; the tanker trucks also use the driveway. Hermann described the current enter/exit pattern for each type of customer or vendor and the proposed changes. 4 I:\COMMISSIONS\PLANNING\MINUTES\1998\04-21-98.WPD