Neighbors Oppose Auto-Repair Shop

People living near 30th and Fiske streets are fighting a proposal by the Stanek family that would put a 10-bay auto-repair facility on a nearby residential property.

Joe Stanek, representing the Frank W. Stanek Trust, asked the city hearing examiner on Tuesday to approve a rezone to allow for the auto service facility nearly a full block south of 29th Avenue.

Stanek said the proposal is consistent with other commercial uses to the north and west on 29th and Regal.

At least five homes would be removed along 30th Avenue, and the new service facility would have a driveway on Fiske Street, a residential access street.

Nearby residents said the noise, traffic and air pollution from the proposed business, when added to the existing commercial commotion, would make the area nearly unlivable.

Lawrence Harvey, who lives in an apartment on the south side of 30th Avenue across from the proposed site, said an existing tire center to the west of his apartment is already an intrusion into the neighborhood. “I’m going to have to look out my living room window at another tire shop,” Harvey said.

Alton’s Tire Center was identified during the hearing as the prospective operator of the proposed business.

Harvey lives in an apartment owned by Edward B. Unicume. Unicume hired attorney Mike Connelly to fight the Stanek’s proposal to preserve the livability for his tenants, according to letters in the hearing examiner file.

Connelly ran through a list of objections to the proposal, including the increase of traffic on access streets that already carry 1,000 vehicles a day or more.

He said there are at least five other auto-repair centers in the area, so another one is not needed.

Connelly said the city’s land-use plan calls for having offices, apartments and small businesses between single-family homes and noisy businesses like auto-repair facilities.

The proposed business would be next to apartments and single-family homes.

Dwight Hume, representing the Staneks, said the property is designated for commercial uses in the city’s latest update of the comprehensive land-use plan.

He said the area has changed substantially since it was zoned for single-family homes, warranting a change to a business designation.

The proposal calls for landscaping around the 9,460-square-foot facility.

The proposed business would face 29th Avenue with the rear of the building facing 30th Avenue. The site has 250 feet along 30th Avenue and 205 feet along Fiske Street.

A traffic study showed that it would add 160 to 230 vehicles a day to the adjacent access streets.

, DataTimes