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BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS

CASE SUMMARY FOR

SPECIAL EXCEPTION

1517, 1513 (1509) Gervais Street

&

1212 Bull Street

October 1, 2020 at 4:00 P.M.

Case Number: 2020-0058-SE

Subject Property: 1517, 1513 (1509) Gervais Street & 1212 Bull Street (TMS# 11401-05-11, -12, -16)

Zoning District: C-4 (Central Area Business District), -DD (City Center Design/Development District)

Applicant: James A. Herlong Sr., Palmetto Garage Works, LLC

Property Owner: BPS Real Estate, LLC

Summary Prepared: September 14, 2020

Requested Action: Special Exception to establish an automotive repair facility in the C-4 zoning district.

Applicable Sections of Zoning Ordinance: §17-258 Automotive repair facilities (SIC 753) allowed in the C-4 district by

special exception.

§17-112 Standard criteria for special exceptions

Case History: N/A

Staff Comments: The applicant is requesting a special exception to establish a +/- 7,000 square foot

automotive repair facility.

The subject property consists of 3 lots totaling +/- .50 acres that will be combined. The

proposed automotive repair facility will include an office and indoor service bays where

all work will be conducted.

Applicant is proposing to use the existing +/- 7,000 sqft building as the auto repair shop

and utilize the front office of the attached existing +/-10,940 sqft building for the main

office for the auto repair business. The remaining offices at rear of building will

continue to be leased out to other businesses. The existing parking lot with an entrance

on Bull Street will remain to service the offices and auto repair shop.

The proposed development will include building modifications and façade updating to

be more compatible and complimentary to the downtown area. The building plans have

a traffic flow that accommodates customers pulling into the repair shop from Gervais

Street and exiting onto Bull Street.

Surrounding properties are similarly zoned.

The applicant has provided a conceptual site plan and all exterior changes will fall under

D/DRC purview.

Associated applications for a variance to the off-street parking requirement (2020-0059-

V) and a variance to the buffer transition yard requirement (2020-0060-V) are also before

the Board.

Should the Board approve this request, the following items shall be conditions of

approval:

Construction and operation to be in substantial conformance with the

application and supporting materials submitted by the applicant and shall

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conform to all relevant city development regulations, including but not limited

to fire and building code;

This approval is not for the operation of a junk/scrap yard and abandoned,

derelict, inoperable or dismantled vehicles shall not be stored on site, on

adjacent parcels, or in the right of way;

No outdoor storage or sales permitted on site;

All automotive repair will take place inside the building;

Lots to be combined;

Following vacancy, abandonment, or discontinuance of this use for a period of

12 consecutive months, the special exception shall be considered completed and

shall expire.

Any documents submitted by persons expressing support or concern about this application are attached hereto

and made part of the record of the public hearing.

)

City CenterDesign/Development

District

Landmark

BULL ST

C-5

C-4

GERVAIS ST

BULL ST

DISCLAIMER:The City of Columbia Department of Planning and Development Services data represented on this map or plan

is the product of compilation, as produced by others. It is provided

for informational purposes only and the City of Columbia makes no

representation as to its accuracy. Its use without field verification is at the

sole risk of the user.

1517, 1513 (1509) Gervais St & 1212 Bull StTMS# 11401-05-11,-12,-16)Zoning Map

** DATA SOURCE - CITY OF COLUMBIA, GIS DIVISION

µDepartment of Planning & Development Services

LegendRAILROADS CITY LIMITS

FEMA FP

ORIGINAL PREPARATION/DATE:This map was prepared by:

D-1RS-1RS-1ARS-1BRS-2RS-3RDRD-2RG-1RG-1ARG-2RG-3UTDMX-1MX-2

C-1C-2C-3C-3AC-4C-5M-1M-2PUD-CPUD-LSPUD-LS-EPUD-LS-RPUD-ROUT OF CITYDD DISTRICTDP DISTRICTSPD DISTRICTCC OVERLAY

) City Landmark

Special Exception 2020-0058-SE

1 inch = 61 feet

Waverly

Subject Properties

Hope Hastyfor

October 1, 2020BoZA Meeting

02/04/2019

02/04/2019

02/04/2019

Office Use Only Date Received: Case #:

Staff Initial: Invoice:

CITY OF COLUMBIA ZONING DIVISION 1136 Washington Street, 1st Floor Columbia, SC 29201 Office: 803-545-3333 E-mail: zoning@columbiasc.gov www.columbiasc.net

SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPLICATION CITY OF COLUMBIA BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS

PLEASE READ: So that we can better serve all applicants, completed applications must be submitted by the 4:00 PM published application deadline (please refer to the official BoZA Calendar, available on our web site at www.columbiasc.net). Any failure to submit all required documentation and payment by the published deadline shall result in applications being returned, withdrawn, or scheduled at a later date.

** In some instances, a pre-application meeting with staff is encouraged. Applicant is strongly advised to contact and/or meet with the adjacent neighborhood association(s) to communicate details of the proposed project prior to application submittal. Neighborhood Association contact information may be obtained from Zoning staff.

Property Information

Address of Subject Property:

Tax Map Number(s): Zoning District: Overlay District:

Current Use of Property:

Estimated Value of Project: Type of Development:

Applicant Information

Applicant:

Name of Company (if applicable):

Mailing Address

City: State: Zip:

E-mail Address: Phone:

Are you the property owner? Yes No

If no, please ensure the Letter of Agency is completed in its entirety and submitted with application

Page 2 of 4 Revised January 2019

1509 & 1517 Gervais Street and 1212 Bull Street

James A. Herlong, Sr.

Palmetto Garage Works, LLC

2701 Millwood Avenue

Columbia SC 29205

jimmyherlong@gmail.com 803.233.7206

X

11401-05-12, 11401-05-11 & 11401-05-16

Special Exception Application Case #: City of Columbia Board of Zoning Appeals

Please provide the specific section(s) of the City of Columbia Zoning Ordinance from which a special exception is being requested (ex. 17-258). To find the applicable section, please see Chapter 17 of the City of Columbia Code of Ordinances, viewable at www.municode.com

Description of Request: Please describe your proposal in detail. You may attach a separate sheet if necessary. Additionally, you may provide any supporting materials that are applicable to your request (i.e. business plan, site plan, plat of property, photographs, etc.)

Applicant Response to Section 17-112(2): The Board of Zoning Appeals shall approve an application for a special exception only upon finding that the required criteria are met (see 17-112(2) of the Zoning Ordinance). In evaluating your request, the members of the Board will review the answers below as part of the case record. You may attach a separate sheet if necessary.

1. Describe in what ways the proposed special exception will not have a substantial adverse impact on vehicular traffic orvehicular and pedestrian safety and how adequate provisions are made in the proposed exception for parking and forloading and unloading.

2. Describe in what ways the proposed special exception will not have a substantial adverse impact on adjoining propertiesin terms of environmental factors such as noise, lights, glare, vibration, fumes, odors, obstruction of air or light, and litter.

3. Describe in what ways the proposed special exception will not have a substantial adverse impact on the aestheticcharacter of the area, to include a review of the orientation and spacing of buildings.

4. Explain how the proposed special exception will not have an adverse impact on public safety or create nuisanceconditions detrimental to the public interest or conditions likely to result in increased law enforcement response.

Section(s):

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17-258 (Auto Repair Shop in C-4 Zoning)

See attached

See attached

See attached

See attached

See attached

Attachment for Special Exception Request (Section 17-258) Description of Request: The property at 1509 and 1517 Gervais Street and 1212 Bull Street is proposed to be converted into a Midas auto repair shop and offices. It is proposed that the existing abandoned warehouse building at 1517 Gervais Street be converted to the shop. 1509 Gervais Street is currently office space and will remain office space. The front of 1509 Gervais Street will be incorporated as the office for Midas and the rear of 1509 will be leased office space. The two existing driveways (at grade and a loading dock) will be eliminated and a single one-way entrance through the middle of the building will be installed. The façade will be pulled forward to the right of way line and it will have one bay for cars to enter. The service bays will be inside the building. Customers will drive through the building to drop off their cars. Section 1 There are two driveways along Gervais Street that would be eliminated. One of the driveways is an unsightly loading dock. A new driveway would be centered on the building and would be a one-way entrance into the building. With the driveway being a one-way entrance driveway there are not issues with sight distance. This driveway concept has been discussed with SCDOT and they are amenable to the one-way entrance into the building if we agree to take out the two existing driveways. There is good visibility along the front of 1517 Gervais such that motorists can easily see pedestrians on the sidewalk. There is a parking lot behind 1517 Gervais Street at 1212 Bull Street that is part of the project. There will be 24 spaces in a remodeled parking lot at 1212 Bull Street. The parcels will all be recombined into one lot so that parking is on-site. Customers who drive into the Midas shop would drop their cars off inside the building, so there would not be any loading or unloading in the public right of way. Section 2 The proposed Midas shop will look very different from other auto repair shops. There will be a single entry. There will not be multiple garage bay doors in succession that is typical of other establishments in the area. The work stations will be lined up on either side of the inside of the building and hidden from view from the public. Since the repair operations are all inside the building with only a single entry point, noise will be more contained inside the building. The same goes for lighting. Since the building façade will be brought forward to the right of way and all auto repair operations will contained in the building there will not be opportunities for litter around the outside of the building. Section 3 The existing building at 1517 Gervais Street is a warehouse type building that has been vacant for decades. The intent is to tear off the existing façade and build a new front that pulls the building up to the right of way line to match the buildings on either side. The new façade will be designed to be complimentary to the surrounding area. By pulling the façade forward the renovated building will be in keeping with the character of the commercial district on that block and the blocks across Gervais Street. Section 4 Any noise or light pollution will be contained within the building. The hours of operation will be during business hours, so there won’t be any activities occurring on the site at night. The site will also be used as office space, so there will be professionals working in the rear of 1509 Gervais Street.

Section 5 While there are three other auto repair shops along Gervais Street they all have made no effort to disguise their use. They are long buildings with many garage doors that look like auto repair shops. The proposed renovation would have a single entry doorway on Gervais Street with the shop hidden inside the building. The new façade is designed to blend into the character of the neighboring buildings. Two nearby service stations have closed recently: the Exxon station at the corner of Gervais and Bull no longer has a service department and Pope Davis at the corner of Taylor Street and Pickens recently closed so, there are less auto repair shops in the area now. Section 6 1517 Gervais Street is an industrial building, so converting the building to an auto repair shop is in keeping with the original use of the building. By adding a new façade, it will now get a face lift to blend into the character of the surrounding blocks. The building design will have to be reviewed before DDRC so they will also have input on what is the most appropriate look for the building. Section 7 C-4 zoning allows a wide range of uses. The list of permitted uses for C-4 includes offices, dog kennels, motor vehicle sales, trailer rentals, schools, motor freight storage and hospitals among many others. An auto repair shop is in keeping with the wide array of business services every downtown city should have. Section 8 The proposed Midas is able to operate within their property with a creative approach in re-utilizing a long abandoned warehouse building. Due to the nature of their business most of its clientele will work downtown. By having a repair shop so close to downtown most folks who drop off their vehicles for service will probably walk to their office which will activate a long dormant block of Gervais Street. Having more pedestrians on sidewalks creates a vibrancy and active city center that is desirable. With measures taken to create an architecturally sympathetic façade and a hidden shop area, this project is a great fit for the area and would not adversely affect the public interest.

1

Jaen, Erica L

From: Jack McKenzie <JackM@mmrml.com>Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2020 3:55 PMTo: COC Board MeetingSubject: [EXTERNAL] Meeting of October 1, 2020 -- Board of Zoning Appeals

CAUTION: This email originated outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments from unknown senders or suspicious emails. Never enter a username or password on a site that you did not knowingly access.

8. 2020-0058-SE 1517, 1513 (1509) Gervais Street & 1212 Bull Street (11401-05-11, - 12, -16) Special exception to establish an automotive repair shop (James A. Sr., Herlong, Palmetto Garage Works, LLC) (C-

4, -DD) 9. 2020-0059-V 1517, 1513 (1509) Gervais Street & 1212 Bull Street (11401-05-11, - 12, -16) Variance to the minimum off-street parking requirement (James A. Sr., Herlong, Palmetto Garage Works, LLC) (C-

4, -DD) 10. 2020-0060-V 1517, 1513 (1509) Gervais Street & 1212 Bull Street (11401-05-11, - 12, -16) Variance to the buffer transition yard (James A. Sr., Herlong, Palmetto Garage Works, LLC) (C-4, -DD) Dear Sir or Madame: I am writing to express my strong objection to special exception and variances requested in agenda items 8-10. (See above.) As a past president of the Richland County Bar, a past chair of the City of Columbia Tree and Appearance Commission, an alumnus of the University of South Carolina School of law, and a current member of the USC law school alumni council, I feel as though the City and our community should be doing all that we can to enhance the prestige of our legal system. As I am sure that you are aware, alumni of USC law raised millions to put up the new law school. Aesthetics were an enormous part of this project. As part of that, the University paid a large amount of money to take down the power lines in front of the law school and plant that line of oaks. It was meant to be a special place that would reflect the majesty of the Supreme Court and the National Advocacy Center. These variances and the special exception harm these efforts.

2

The law school does not need a car repair shop across the street from it. It is an insult to the incredible effort to improve Columbia and the surrounding area that the law school symbolizes.

Gervais Street already has 3 car repair shops within that 2-3 block radius. Those shops already do not conform to the area. The busines district is expanding. Car shops and the like do not conform to this expansion. Another automotive repair shop right in the heart of town is not good for Columbia, and is certainly not good for Columbia’s growth. Please reject the applicant’s requests of the special exception and the variances. Sincerely Yours John F. McKenzie 22 Heathwood Circle Columbia, SC 29205 home 1704 Main Street Columbia, SC 29201 work 252-0500