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The Steamboat Springs Planning Commission tabled a request for an automobile sales center west of town, citing a lack of landscaping.

Chapman and Kendall Geer came before the Planning Commission on Thursday night with development plans for Alpine Auto Sales, a conditional use in the commercially zoned district. The 5,600-square-foot, two-story building with an automobile showroom and offices is across the highway from Grease Money and Big O Tires.

The Planning Commission followed the city planning staff's recommendation to table the plan, allowing the applicants more time to comply with the code.

The Geers asked for two variances from the code. One would allow for vehicles to be on display in front of the building and the other was to not have any landscaping within a 35-foot landscape buffer zone off U.S. Highway 40.

Benji Amsden of Archistructure One said one of the reasons for the landscaping variance request was that code requirements would mean watering the area practically every day in the summer.

"In our current situation in this town, the landscaping requirements are, in my opinion, ludicrous," Amsden said

The planning staff said it would be willing to support a variance that would allow for a reduction in the width of the 35-foot dense landscape setback to allow for three vehicles to be on display.

The Planning Commission unanimously agreed to table the application.

"To request a variance and then (to have) a mitigation of zero, to not meet standards at all, you won't get an approval from me," Planning Commissioner Cari Hermacinski said.

Planning Commission member Randall Hannaway suggested the applicants look at what Cook Chevrolet is doing with its new automobile sales center at the corner of U.S. 40 and Shield Drive. Owner Scott Cook was able to incorporate a display area for his vehicles and provide landscaping.

"What they came up with at Cook is a great idea. And to me it didn't look like it would be terribly involved," Hannaway said.

The plan has been postponed to the July 22 meeting.

The Planning Commission also approved the development plan for a 9,295-square-foot commercial building that will incorporate First National Bank of the Rockies and a drive-thru facility and office space on the second floor.

-- To reach Christine Metz call 871-4229

or e-mail cmetz@steamboatpilot.com