Walker zoning board approves narrower parking stalls for River City Auto

The City of Walker Zoning Board of Appeals on May 27 approved a variance allowing River City Auto at 4020 Remembrance Road NW to use parking stalls as narrow as 8 feet and 7½ feet where the city zoning ordinance (section 1202I) requires a minimum 9-foot stall width.

Paula, a city staff member presenting the case, told the board the site is zoned C1 and is under half an acre. She said the applicant, Chad Tyrell, requested reduced stall widths to fit additional lawful parking on a triangular, nonconforming lot. Paula summarized the ordinance and the four legal standards the board must find before granting a variance and noted prior variances for the property in 2021, 2022 and earlier decades.

Paula also read written comments from Scott Connors, the city engineer, who said the proposed reduction would make it difficult for tow trucks and wreckers to drop off and handle inoperable vehicles and concluded, “We cannot support the proposed reduction in parking space size.” The comment was submitted in writing and read into the record by staff; Connors was not present at the meeting.

Applicant Chad Tyrell said the lot’s triangular shape limits layout options and that narrower stalls would create additional staging and storage space for vehicles awaiting parts or towing. “These parking spaces would truly make a huge difference for our small business,” Chad said, and added that River City Auto plans to repave the lot at the end of June if the board approves the layout.

Neighbors and community members spoke in favor. Dave Netty, a nearby property owner, said the parcel predates current rules and argued smaller parking widths are workable: “If an 8-foot parking lot isn’t wide enough, why are we building houses with 8-foot doors in them?” Frankie, a student representing Kennel Hills High School, said River City Auto had donated to the school’s program and urged the board to consider the business’s community contributions.

Board members debated practical effects and the variance standards, including whether the parcel’s unusual shape constituted an extraordinary circumstance and whether the change would harm adjacent properties. Several members said that repaving and striping would improve the site’s appearance and that the spaces would be used primarily for staging rather than general customer parking.

Jeff moved to approve the variance as proposed and Mary seconded. The board voiced approval and the chair declared the motion approved; the transcript does not record a precise roll-call tally. The chair asked Chad to remain after the meeting to confer briefly with staff about implementation steps.

The variance approval allows River City Auto to mark additional parking spaces as proposed on the submitted site plan; staff noted the applicant previously received administrative approval for five new spaces and the current request would expand the lot layout further. The written engineering concern about tow-truck access remains in the record; the city engineer’s comment came to the board as written input rather than an in-person presentation.

The board adjourned following the vote.