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Donald Applegate wants to help his community by setting up a repair shop in his backyard. The Dillwyn resident came before the Buckingham planning commission on Monday, Feb. 24, asking for a special use permit to launch what would be Church Automotive. 

Applegate, who’s been a certified master technician since 1997, said he just wanted to do a couple things and help local residents. 

“What I’m looking to do is open pretty much an inspection center and run an honest auto repair business,” Applegate told the commission. 

In the application, he explained the Church Automotive name “reflects the devotion and abilities that the business will maintain for the community. I have all the tools, experience and necessary equipment to operate a business of this nature. My goals are to start and build a reliable business to serve the citizens of Buckingham County and surrounding areas.” 

The shop will be set up on Applegate’s property, located at 17534 E. James Anderson Highway. 

He said there would be no more than 10 to 15 vehicles being worked on at any time there, with no vehicle allowed to stay more than 10 days. He also wanted to make it clear that there was no plan to start any type of scrapyard or junkyard with this project. You won’t be able to see the repair shop from the street and there would be no large vehicles being worked on. That was a question raised by some planning commission members and Applegate assured them his shop wouldn’t be a place for tractor trailers. 

“Nothing larger than an F350,” Applegate said. “I did that a long time ago, but my back did not like picking up really big brake drums.” 

It would also operate Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. He had to follow those rules, Applegate explained, in order to be an inspection facility. 

Why is a permit needed for repair shop? 

So why does Applegate need to come before the commission? Because his property and the surrounding area is zoned Agriculture (A-1). Buckingham’s zoning ordinance doesn’t allow a commercial garage and auto repair shop like he’s proposing in that area, at least not as a ‘by right’ permitted use. Instead, it can be approved through a special use permit, with authorization from the commission and later the Buckingham board of supervisors. 

There are a couple rules the county put in place, that Applegate will have to follow. First, the right of way and roadway shoulders on E. James Anderson Highway can’t be used for parking. Second, the property has to be kept neat and orderly, which echoes back to Applegate’s promise not to have a junkyard or scrapyard situation. The commission also has a rule in place that requires there be no more than 15 inoperable vehicles and/or machinery outside of the main repair shop at any time. 

Applegate agreed to all of those terms and the planning commission members agreed to move this forward to a public hearing. That’ll take place on Monday, March 24, beginning at 6 p.m.