MOUNT VERNON — Mount Vernon City Council greenlit rezoning two Coshocton Avenue parcels to enable O’Reilly Auto Parts to expand its footprint at 806 Coshocton Ave.
O’Reilly plans to buy parcels 66-07885.000 and 66-05577.000 at 804 Coshocton Ave. and expand from 6,000 square feet to 7,500 square feet.
The parcels are zoned R-1 residential. On Tuesday, council members approved rezoning them to GB (General Business).
Plans call for demolishing the house at 804 Coshocton Ave. and adding a second entrance to the auto parts store.
Blake Rourick of OWN Inc, the engineering firm representing O’Reilly, said the expansion adds about 20% more space.
“But the bigger thing that it’s going to do is it’s going to make sure we can ensure safety of the public and the customers,” he said.
“It’s going to allow us to grant two entrances and exits. And we’re also going to be able to correct the ADA (accessibility) that’s there.”
Rourick said OWN will submit plans as soon as council approves rezoning.
“Once those are approved, O’Reilly likes to move pretty quick, so it would not linger out there. It would be something they would start, and it would be a phased design,” he said.
O’Reilly will operate the current store during construction. The final phase would connect the existing entrance to the new parking lot.
Rourick said there will be some work to connect the new entrance onto Coshocton Avenue, but said it will have minimal impact.
He said the contractor will include dust mitigation efforts during construction and install fences to ensure there is no washout.
No one spoke for or against the rezoning at Tuesday’s public hearing. City officials said they received no correspondence on the issue.
Council members take other legislative action
The council took the following additional actions on Tuesday:
•On third reading, approved a compliance policy relating to issuing bonds and revised vehicle storage regulations.
•Waived the three readings and approved 1) applying for a Small City grant; 2) transfers and supplemental appropriations, including $425,953 in federal money for State Route 13 realignment; 3) a joint project with the Knox County Land Bank to repair an acquaduct on North Norton Street; and 4) amending city code relating to backflow regulations.
•Gave a second reading to legislation relating to joining a county gas and electric aggregation program and reclassifying the pay grades of the city inspector, public works director, and human resources director.
•Gave the first reading to legislation approving a lease for 9 ½ E. High St. and setting the compensation and benefits for the part-time recreation coordinator and two administrative assistant positions.
Olivia Toth, executive director of the Knox County Convention & Visitors Bureau, updated the council on CVB activities relating to America 250.
