Service and sales center to open
in Celina Industrial Park
By SEAN RICE
srice@dailystandard.com
Celina Planning Commission cleared the way Tuesday for a used
automotive dealership to open in the Celina Industrial Park,
off Havemann and Grand Lake roads.
Commission members approved a conditional use request from property
owner John Taylor and prospective dealership owner Jim Yoder,
allowing a service and sales center to open in the newly-created
light manufacturing (M-2) zone.
The M-2 zone was created by Celina City Council before the new
year. It was vetoed by former Mayor Paul Arnold, but the veto
was overturned by council this month. The zoning change from
Industrial (M-1) to M-2 allows for more commercial, sales and
service type businesses.
Yoder explained his plans to expand an existing building next
to Four-U Packaging & Office to make a seven-bay service
center and showroom, which will be fronted by an asphalt parking
lot. The plans show the business with a driveway onto Havemann
Road.
Two commission members voiced opposition to a new curb cut (driveway)
to Havemann Road because of safety and traffic concerns. But
after a long discussion, they voted unanimously to approve the
site plan with conditions.
“In my opinion, I won’t be approving any curb cuts
unless it serves more than one property owner,” commission
member and Celina Safety-Service Director Mike Sovinski said.
Member Eldon Wetter also disapproved because the road recently
was reconstructed with a bike path.
Mayor Sharon LaRue said the city is expected to provide a new
business with reasonable access to their property, “because
of the situation created with the zoning.”
Yoder said the owners of Four U Packaging also are requesting
the curb cut to benefit their service/sales business. As shown
on the site plan, the driveway would lie on the property lines
between the businesses.
Commission members looked at aerial photos of Havemann Road
and discussed the possibility of future businesses and the need
for more curb cuts. Sovinski said he could envision one more
cut on the north side of Havemann Road in the future, near JES
Foods. The new Super Wal-Mart development planned for the south
side of Havemann Road has already added two curb cuts.
Yoder said the 12 driveways currently on that 0.6-mile stretch
of Havemann Road are a minor safety issue, compared to the 55
on Market Street in a 0.6-mile stretch near Rino’s Auto
Sales.
Members voted to approve the site plan on the condition the
storm drainage meets city engineering standards.
Members also addressed minor changes to the lot layout and storm
drainage design for the planned Super Wal-Mart store.
Bids for site work are going to be opened this week and construction
of the huge facility is expected to begin in June or July, Sovinski
said. Also, Wal-Mart may be dealing with another large retailer
to open a second store next to the new Wal-Mart.
Wal-Mart property developer Bo Gunlock said Wal-Mart is “very
excited about the potential of someone moving in there,”
Sovinski said of the prospect of a second store.
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