Powercoat business gets OK (7/20/05)

A planned powder coating business in Portland cleared its final hurdle Tuesday evening when it was granted a special exception by the Portland Board of Zoning Appeals.

Portland resident Dave Teeter asked the board to grant him a special exception in a central business district so he can start a powder coating business in an existing building at 115 E. High St. The business would be called Metalhide Quality Finishes and would be operated by Teeter and his son.

The Portland City Council voted Monday night to revise the Portland Zoning Ordinance to allow powder coating — a type of finishing for metal — as a special exception in the list of authorized uses in a central business district.

At the Portland Planning Commission’s July 7 meeting, commission members recommended the council approve the ordinance change.

The building and planning department has not received any letters opposing the new business from adjacent property owners, Bill Milligan, Jay/ Portland Building and Planning administrator, said this morning.

Teeter told the commission the coating is environmentally safe and has no emissions. It is sprayed onto metal, then baked in an oven, in which it melts and adheres to a surface. It can be used on anything metal, including automobiles and motorcycles, he said.

Teeter said today he plans to open his business by the end of September.

Also Tuesday, the board granted a rural Portland man’s special exception request for a small manufacturing assembly business in an agricultural district.

Thomas R. Robbins, 2822 South Butternut Creek Drive, told the board he would like to disassemble, repair and assemble broken manufactured parts in a building located at 2367 West Ind. 26. The building, located in Greene Township, is owned by Jon and Mary Juillerat.

Before the board voted, board member Vicki Tague asked where the parts would be stored before they are repaired.

Robbins said some would be inside, but there also would be parts stored outside, south of the building. Robbins added that he only planned to have the business in the building for six months to a year. Hopefully, the business will be successful enough to move into a larger facility, he said.

Milligan said this morning the business does not yet have a name.

Before the board voted Tuesday, neighbors of the proposed business Dale Wolford, 2320 West Ind. 26, and Don Kelley, 270 South 200 West, said they did not oppose Robbins’ plans.

The board voted to grant the special exception, as long as Robbins puts up a fence or finds a way to store all of the parts inside within one year of the business opening.

In other business, the board granted a variance in side yard setback requirements, so Milligan, 1334 S. Meridian St., Portland, can build a new garage.

Milligan said the zoning ordinance states that the setback requirement is 15 feet from the property line. However, he would like to build a new garage where his old garage currently stands, which is only seven feet from the property line.

Before the board voted, Milligan said his neighbors have told him they approve of the planned location for the garage.

The four board members who were present Tuesday approved Milligan’s request.[[In-content Ad]]