The owner of Southlake Auto Body in Hobart received permission Thursday from the plan commission to add two more pole barn buildings on his 10-acre lot, with conditions.
Owner Jeff Chas said both buildings would be used for storage.
He said one would be placed about five acres toward the back of his property at 7991 Clay St., and the other would be located behind the front building.
He currently has four buildings on his property.
Commission member Ray Rodriguez said he had no problem with the request, but didn’t like that none of the property is paved.
“You’re bringing gravel onto the street. You should blacktop at least the front part to the fence,” Rodriguez told Chas.
Chas said 90 percent of his business is repairing semitrailers and they would tear up the blacktop. He said he also has problems with rainwater.
The commission unanimously agreed that Chas will need to pave 50 feet back from Clay Street, the minimum required by the city, and will need to provide a paved ADA-accessible parking lot with striping and signs within one year.
Clay also needs to dedicate a 40-foot right of way extending from the center of Clay Street to his property to the city.
Karen Caffarini is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
