Planning Commission Approves Site Plan for Shamrock Automotive Expansion

A proposal to expand a small auto repair shop on S. Telegraph Road in Dearborn received a green light Monday from the Dearborn Planning Commission.

The commission voted 7-0 to approve a site plan and special land use petition from Shamrock Automotive, Inc. to allow the sale of used cars on two parcels of land the business owns.

Chairman Gary Errigo and Vice Chairwoman Nancy Siwik were absent for the vote.

Scott Sutherland, manager of Shamrock Automotive, said he plans to limit the sale of used vehicles to 10, but must receive approval from the city before he can obtain a license from the state of Michigan.

"We're mainly doing this because some of the cars we receive are not worth the owner investing a lot of money in to repair them," Sutherland said.

The property is currently zoned Business C (general business district) therefore a used car dealership does comply with the city's Master Plan, according to Janet Scheuher-Nalezty, senior planner for the city of Dearborn.

Sutherland said he has no plans to change the signage or lighting at the repair shop, and nearby businesses will hardly notice a difference with the expansion. He said currently he has three cars available to sell.

"Our primary operation will not change," he said.

Commissioner Theresa Skora asked if the special land use would remain if Shamrock Automotive eventually closed or sold the property. City attorney William DiBiasi said a future used car dealership could move to the property, but any expansion would require approval from the Planning Commission and city council. A future owner would also have to provide proof of license to sell used cars on the property.

Because the Planning Commission is a recommending body, its approval will now be sent to the city council for final consideration.