FORTVILLE — Caliber Collision will look to move into a new building at 3299 W 1000N after getting special exception approval at the Board of Zoning Appeals meeting last Thursday.
Melissa Hernandez of Cross Architects was the petitioner on the behalf of Caliber Collision, who is wanting to open up a new automotive body repair shop.
Adam Zaklikowski, planning and building director for the town of Fortville, said a special exception would be required and approved by the BZA for this request per the Zoning Ordinance and this specific location being zoned Industrial Light (IL).
The total parcel size would be 2.97 acres with the project occupying 14,600 square feet of a 26,000 square feet building. To the north of 1000N there are some residential areas located in Fishers, with 1000N being the dividing line between Hancock and Hamilton County.
On the site plan, Caliber Collision would take up the south end of the building and also have a fenced area that would contain vehicles there for repairs.
Within the approval criteria, Zaklikowski said that the staff’s recommendation for the special exception is to approve with conditions. Those conditions would include planting arborvitae trees along the south and east porting of the fence for enhancing screening and all vehicles awaiting repair shall be located within the fenced area.
On the plans it shows a chain-link fence with vinyl slats on the south and east side, which Zaklikowski said is very similar to what is currently there at the Deaton Property. On the west side, they have a black steel picket gate with mesh installed on the backside.
“The only downside with the vinyl fencing through the chain link (fence) is sometimes it can get kind of beat up with time and I just think having some additional landscape out there will dress it up,” Zaklikowski said.
For parking, the site plan shows approximately 68 parking spaces, which according to the applicant, “is more than enough to meet the Caliber Collision operation’s parking requirements.”
Hernandez said that with the conditions presented, they would gladly comply and have enhanced screening along the south and east portion of the fence. Also, all vehicles they receive for repair will remain behind a six-foot chain-linked fence with black privacy vinyl slabs.
Hernandez said all repairs are to happen indoors and be screened from public view and all parts are to be stored in an enclosed building. The building would operate from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday with approximately 14 staff and employees.
“Most of you probably already know, Caliber Collision is a well-known brand and is one of the biggest collision centers in the nation with over 1,700 locations in 41 states and they are still continuously growing,” said Hernandez at the meeting.
Hernandez says that Caliber Collision also supports surrounding communities while maintaining their facilities and taking pride in their work.
With no remonstrance and no additional questions for the petitioner or Fortville staff from the BZA board, the special exception with conditions for Caliber Collision was granted 3-0.