Approval sought for auto repair shop in downtown New Kensington

Mike Smith was wanting for more place for his car maintenance enterprise, Ar-Ken Automotive, when he moved from Structure Boulevard to Fifth Avenue in New Kensington earlier this yr.

The house accessed from the back of 649 Fifth Ave. gave him an additional excellent 500 sq. feet, which he claimed was double the dimension of wherever he experienced been at 940 Structure Boulevard. He moved to the new spot in May.

“I can in shape 8 autos in right here at 1 time,” he stated.

But to work an auto repair service organization in New Kensington’s central business enterprise district, he’ll have to have to get a particular exception authorised by the city’s Zoning Hearing Board.

The board is scheduled to listen to the request when it fulfills at 7 p.m. Nov. 14 at town corridor, 301 11th St.

The making sits upcoming to Eazer’s Cafe & Deli, which is at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Seventh Street.

The residence is zoned professional, but car repairs and revenue are a particular exception use inside of the professional region below the city’s zoning ordinance written in 1994, zoning Officer Tony Males mentioned.

That acceptance need to have been sought in advance of the business opened there, Males explained.

Particular exception takes advantage of go by means of the Zoning Listening to Board for acceptance. If denied, the determination can be appealed to courtroom, Males explained.

Smith reported he and his spouse, Haleigh, of Arnold begun Ar-Ken Automotive in the garage at their property in 2016 and it took off. They were at 940 Structure Boulevard for 3 many years.

Smith said he’s making use of the overall 1st ground at 649 Fifth Ave. He believes it experienced been an oil transform small business in the 1960s and 1970s mainly because there is a pit for oil variations in the floor.

Smith claimed the organization is just him and his spouse. He does mechanical and body get the job done, and will before long start off accomplishing inspections.

“Anything that has a motor, we’ll do the job on it,” he claimed.

Smith stated he does not do any work outside. He has a single elevate and is seeking to get one more, but is ready for price ranges to neat off or a excellent offer to come along.

Ar-Ken Automotive is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, Saturdays by appointment and shut on Sundays.

Landscape variance considered

At its Nov. 14 assembly, the Zoning Listening to Board will also contemplate a ask for from Dominic Distilo for a variance for outdoors landscape provide bins at 2222 Freeport Road.

The property was most a short while ago the website of The Lab, a bar, which has closed, Males stated.

Males reported Distilo is arranging to place a landscape provide enterprise at the front of the making, and a contracting small business in the rear.

The zoning ordinance requires all company to be done inside of the making. Males explained a variance is necessary for outside storage bins, which do not comply with the ordinance.