Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

There’s just a couple of things Buckingham supervisors would like cleared up, before they consider the Church Automotive proposal. Monday, April 21 was supposed to be the introduction of the application by Church’s owner, Donald Applegate, after it moved through the planning commission back in March. However, several supervisors requested that it get sent back to the planning commission for clarification and then brought back in May. 

Part of the issue is who has and has not agreed to the stipulations. 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. Back in March, 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. That seems pretty cut and dry. However, the issue is with the wording. The application says both the business owner and the property owner have agreed to the conditions, but supervisors appeared confused if Applegate owned the property, which he does. 

“I would like to see this go back to the planning commission, because it’s kind of clattered to me,” Board Chairman Joe Chambers said. He also pointed out the document mentions a privacy fence, but doesn’t say what type or any details about what it would be. 

“I’ve got no problem against the project but I think we need some clarification before we move forward,” Chambers said. 

His comments were echoed by supervisor Cameron Gilliam, who said the county welcomes all business to the area, but they also need to make sure residents are taken care of, in regards to the privacy fence. 

What is Church’s Automotive? 

Applegate applied for a special use permit to run a state inspection center and auto repair business. In the application, Applegate 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 do Buckingham supervisors need to issue a permit?

So why does Applegate need to come before the Buckingham supervisors? 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.