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Questions were asked and answered on Monday, March 24. By the end of the discussion, the Buckingham Planning Commission recommended approval of Donald Applegate’s proposed repair shop, sending it on to Buckingham supervisors. 

There were just a few changes asked for and agreed to. In the original application, Applegate said there would be no more than 15 vehicles sitting out waiting for parts or repairs at any point on the property. Planning commission member Pete Kapuscinski asked if Applegate would be willing to guarantee no more than 10 vehicles. Applegate said he had no problem with that. The planning commission also asked that if at any point, he decided to cut down the trees surrounding his property, would he be willing to put up a privacy fence. Applegate had no problem agreeing to that request as well. 

About the application and Buckingham supervisors

This special use permit would be to launch a repair shop called 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. 

Commission members had asked if he would be required to inspect tractor trailers by the state. Applegate explained his certification gives him the ability to, but does not require it. And he said those larger vehicles, anything larger than an F350, would not be serviced at his shop. 

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? 

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 more 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. 

What happens next? 

The vote was 6-1 in favor of moving the project forward, with Steven Dorrier opposed and Joyce Gooden absent. With the vote, the project now goes to the Buckingham supervisors for discussion, during their April meeting.