April 2, 2018—An auto repair shop in Dayton, Ohio, that generated some neighborhood complaints has operated for years without the proper permit, according to the Dayton Daily News.
In December, the city of Dayton issued the auto mechanic’s business at 515 Warren St. a legal notice of violation for storing inoperable motor vehicles and auto parts outdoors in a fenced-off lot.
The business was once called Matt’s Auto Repair. Business owner Matt Gregory appealed the violation, arguing the property has been used for motor vehicle repairs for many decades and should be “grandfathered in.”
But Dayton Zoning Administrator Carl Daugherty said staff research found that the business does not have a certificate of occupancy for automobile repair.
He said the property’s occupancy certificate was modified in the 1980s to automobile clean up and sales, which is not the same as auto repair or a junkyard. Auto clean up could mean detailing and other services.
“It stopped being a legal auto repair around 1987,” Daugherty said.
It’s unclear what may happen to Gregory’s shop, but he’s worried he’ll be put out of business.
“I’ve run a business and I’m trying to continue to run a business,” Gregory said. “I’ve put nine years of blood, sweat and tears into the property.”
