Fayetteville City Council is considering amending the Light Manufacturing (M-1) zoning ordinance to permit sales of vehicles such as recreational vehicles, boats and mobile homes by special exception. The council heard the first reading of the proposed amendment at the Feb. 19 meeting.

The board also heard the first reading of an amendment on off-street parking and loading that would require inventory to be kept in pervious parking areas.

The request to amend the M-1 zoning district came from the Planning and Zoning Commission last year when commissioners asked to have vehicles sales added to the Light Manufacturing (M-1) zoning district. At that time vehicle sales were allowed by special exception in the Highway Commercial (C-3) and High Intensity Commercial (C-4) district but not in M-1, said Planning and Zoning Director Eldridge Gunn said in a Feb. 6 memo

The current ordinance includes a variety of permitted uses, such as certain manufacturing operations and assembly plants, food processing plants, furniture manufacturing and cabinet shops, freight transport terminals and machine shops, Gunn said.

If amended, the ordinance would also include “retail automotive, truck, mobile home, recreational vehicle, heavy equipment and boat dealerships, including establishments for new and used vehicles and equipment, where any inventory is kept on site and related service and maintenance facilities are permitted by special exception only.”

Other special exception businesses in M-1 include firing ranges, sports instruction facilities, pet grooming facilities, car and truck sales and sexually-oriented businesses.

Gunn said part of the rationale for the amendment was that the M-1 zoning district already allowed for a number of automobile associated businesses. Gasoline and diesel fuel sales, motor vehicle repair facilities, garages, tow services, body shops and paint shops are all currently allowed in the M-1 district, he said.

Gunn said that in December city staff received a request to consider an ordinance change that would also allow the sale of recreational vehicles.

Council members Feb. 19 also heard the first reading of an ordinance amendment on off-street parking and loading.

The amendment requires that all vehicle display and storage areas be on paved parking areas, that advertising conform to the sign ordinance and servicing and maintenance follow prescribed guidelines.

The need for this amendment came to our attention while reviewing a recommendation to amend the M-1 Manufacturing District to allow additional types of vehicle sales, Gunn said.

By addressing concerns about the display area in the Off-Street Parking section of the ordinance rather than in just the M-1 district, this allows us to implement this change for all districts where vehicles may be sold as well, said Gunn.

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