The Planning and Zoning Commission has approved a concept plan for the expansion of the Mod’s for Rod’s automotive shop on Parkview Avenue.

The commission voted Jan. 23 to approve the plan with some stipulations. The vote was a unanimous 6-0. Commissioner Stan Connick did not attend the meeting as he is the project architect.

Business owners Randal and Jolene Johnson were asking approval of the plan for a 4,480- square-foot annex to their existing business.

The staff report indicates the building will be used for automotive repair and detailing.

In response to a question from Commissioner Gene Slechta, Johnson said the new building will be used primarily for storage of vehicles being worked on by the restoration and modification shop.

Johnson said lifts will be installed and they would be able to store up to 26 vehicles in the building.

Currently some vehicles are being left in the business parking lot and others are being stored several miles off site.

Johnson said they are very busy and have outgrown their existing building. He said they are also making plans for further expansion.

Commission members asked whether there will be a paint booth in the new building. Johnson said no, he currently works with a paint facility in Tempe and has no plans to change that.

Slechta said he has concerns about the impact the expansion will have on the Plat 208 downtown business tract. He noted that the improvements will cost at least one common parking space and landscaping will extend off the building site.

“I would want something in writing from Plat 208 (property owners association) that they approve of this,” Slechta said.

A stipulation to that effect was added to the motion to approve. Chairman Lloyd Pew, however, noted in voting in favor of the motion that he does not believe the rules and regulations of the private property owners association are a concern of the commission.

“Our objective is to make sure the town’s zoning regulations are followed,” Pew said.

Commissioner Richard Turner concurred with Pew’s assessment.