Modica Brothers Tire Center at the corner of 16th Street and Lutcher Drive plans to expand westward along Lutcher Drive. Tuesday, the Orange Planning and Zoning Commission approved a zone change that would allow the company to operate on the two lots.
The commission agreed to change the zoning from C-1, light commercial, to C-2, commercial. J.C. Modica of the tire company said some of the store’s operations do not fall into the C-1 land uses. The store at 3201 16th Street has the C-2 zone.
The property is next to the Lincoln Heights subdivision. A few neighbors attended the public hearing but only one spoke. She is in favor of the change. She said the store’s parking lot is currently crowded and people driving on Lincoln Drive have to pull past the stop sign to see onto 16th Street. Expanding the business would help clear that parking area, she said.
Modica said the business has tried to be a good neighbor. A wooden privacy fence will be installed between the store’s land and the residential neighborhood, he said.
The meeting was scheduled as a joint one with the city council. Pat Pullen was the only council member to attend. Four of the Planning and Zoning commissioners attended. Chair Cullen Smith recused himself from voting. He said the title company he owns is handling the land transaction between the Lutcher Drive property owner, the Costello Trust, and Modica Brothers.
Commissioners MaQuitta Ledet, Joe Love and James Pledger approved the zone change. The change must also be approved by the city council.
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