Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — As far as the Planning Commission is concerned, the Grease Monkey on U.S. 40 should be selling gas and tires as soon as they can get started.

A conceptual review Thursday night brought out few problems with a proposed addition to the auto service shop, which should be in operation come fall, owner Bob Rundell said.

The maintenance shop, which offers a range of services including oil changes and lube jobs, will now offer gas and tire services as well as brake work, shocks and struts, wheel alignment and tire rotation. The expansion of the auto shop will include a 2,304 square foot gas station with canopy and a new tire store that will occupy 6,700 square feet.

"It's going to be kind of a one-stop shop for vehicle maintenance," Rundell said.

The new shop and credit card-operated gas pumps will be located to the east of the existing Grease Monkey shop, with access off both Downhill Drive and U.S. 40.

Rundell is proposing to create a new access road from U.S. 40 to his shop and adjacent businesses. The current access road, as addressed by both Rundell and some Planning Commissioners, is unwieldy, causing cars to turn diagonally across the road when they veer into the business district from U.S. 40.

"That seems to be a really good solution with the amount of traffic you've got over there," said Planning Commissioner Vince Hooper.

The architecture was a plus for most of the commissioners. The Grease Monkey is proposing to build the tire shop with large glass garage doors that will have even more windows over them. More than 50 percent of the fae would be made of glass, said land use consultant Peter Patten.

The applicants may have to pay for a sidewalk that will go along U.S. 40 and allow the city an easement along Downhill Drive.