KENT—The Sewer Commission approved an application submitted by the owners of Motoriot, a Bridge Street auto dealership, during a special meeting Wednesday afternoon.
Although the application submitted by co-owners Jason Doornick and Charles Narwold had several minor irregularities, the commission approved it pending a revised application being submitted later Wednesday night.
The duo needed the commission’s approval to enable them to go before the Planning and Zoning Commission tonight (Thursday). Failing to get PZC approval tonight, their zoning application will run out of time and be denied. That would result in a cease-and-desist order.
In addition to the Sewer Commission’s approval, the entrepreneurs needed the fire marshal to sign off on their business location and a locational license from the state.
“The fire marshal has wrapped up,” said Land Use Administrator Tai Kern Wednesday. “They still need locational approval, but they can’t get that until they have approval from the PZC. The state comes last.”
The business opened last winter without going through the proper clearances. The PZC and Kern have been guiding them through the procedures ever since but there have been several months of delays. The men eventually hired environmental consultant Larry Page of Burns and McDonell to help them resolve their sewer issues.
During Wednesday’s meeting Sewer Commission Chairman Elissa Potts asked the partners to submit a more detailed plan of the building, showing where sink lines, drains and the like are located. “We want to update our records where possible,” she said. She gave them until September to do that.
Commission member Jack Nelson noted that there had been two drains in the building, but the partners said one had been abandoned. “That drain has been cemented over,” Page said. They were asked to send a letter of abandonment.
“As far as the sewer is concerned, this is not going to be a huge impact on the system, which is what we protect,” Potts observed.
Commissioner Rick Osborne noted that there was a provision for a four-drain wash area. The partners asserted that they had no intention steam cleaning vehicles. “We’re not a detailing shop, all we might do some light steaming of carpets, which doesn’t produce much water,” Doornick said. He said the provision was included “just in case.”
Member Vincent Roberti remembered that a detailing shop had occupied the site previously and said that must have been approved by zoning, but Potts said each business is considered separately.
Osborne said the application included contradictory information. “I am pointing out things you might want to correct before you go to the DEEP,” he cautioned.
“We were anxious about saying the right thing,” said Doornick. “If we ever would do steam cleaning, it would be something very eco-friendly. It may be contradictory, but it’s there as a place holder.”
After approval was given and the businessmen departed, member Cathe Mazza asked how the commission will know if the men change their plans.
“We would see it at the sewer plant,” Potts said, “but, at some point, we need to set up a schedule for inspections of businesses.”
