The CEDA Regional Planning Commission was scheduled Thursday to discuss removing a prohibition on outdoor auto sales in the CC-2A commercial shopping center district. A majority of the board's members were not in attendance, so the panel will likely hold a special meeting next week.
North Bechtle Square I Investments submitted a conditional-use permit request for a car dealership on nearly 5 acres of vacant land on Bechtle Avenue north of the St. Paris Pike Connector.
A map submitted with the conditional-use request identifies the site as Buckeye Ford, which is a dealership with branches in London and Sidney.
Buckeye Ford owner Jim Hunt said nothing’s been decided yet on expanding to Springfield.
There haven't been any Ford dealerships in Clark County since New Carlisle Ford terminated its company franchise last year and converted into a used lot and service center.
Springfield Ford closed in 2008.
Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce President Mike McDorman said “Ford’s interest in placing another significant investment here speaks volumes about the new direction Springfield is heading.”
The Bechtle Avenue land is currently zoned CC-2A commercial shopping center district, which calls for a site-specific plan for building footprints, landscaping and more.
City Planning and Zoning Administrator Heather Whitmore indicated when they reviewed the request, planners realized the zoning district specifically prohibits outdoor auto sales.
Other auto-related uses like repairs are allowed with a conditional-use permit, she said, and car sales are allowed in similar shopping center zoning districts with a conditional use permit.
That doesn’t make sense, she added, especially because it’s allowed in the zoning district CC-2A is based on, and vehicle repairs can be much more intense and create noise.
Even if the prohibition on sales is removed, any dealership would still need a conditional-use permit from the Board of Zoning Appeals.
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