The town of Cornelia, Georgia, has decided to move forward with an ordinance that will impact local auto repair businesses, reports Now Habersham.
Last Tuesday, the Cornelia Commission approved the first reading of an ordinance that would limit the number of vehicles shops may store while waiting for repairs to be completed.
As it’s currently written, the ordinance would place a limit of four vehicles for each 10-foot by 20-foot enclosed bay the shop has. For a shop with six enclosed bays, it would be permitted to store up to 24 vehicles at a time overnight.
Additionally, shops will be barred from working on vehicles outside, but are allowed to keep cars within a fenced-in lot while waiting for repairs to complete.
Some local shop owners have voiced concern over the decision, with older businesses likely needing to change their operations.
Cornelia Mayor John Borrow said one local technician had highlighted supply chain issues as the biggest problem with the ordinance, with repairs that once took a matter of days to complete now requiring months due to a scarcity of parts. City Manager Dee Anderson affirmed this, referencing her discussion with another local tech who recalled waiting three months for a headlight assembly to arrive.
The commission wants to avoid inconveniencing or harming any local businesses but is also trying to address safety and citizen complaints and maintain the city’s appearance, with one local shop leaving cars directly next to roadways.
While the commission is moving forward with the ordinance, it will be seeking input from local auto shops over the next month before announcing a final decision. Code enforcement officials have delivered letters to businesses potentially impacted by the ordinance to gain their thoughts as quickly as possible.
