Austin is likely getting another place to buy cars.

The city’s planning commission approved a conditional use permit for a used car lot at 401 First Ave. SW during its monthly meeting Tuesday.

Red City Sports and Imports could be open as soon as May 1 if all goes well, according to owner Kayla Sturm.

Sturm’s husband, Matt Sturm, will run the business, which could have up to 15 cars at any time.

“It’s something we’ve talked about for a long time,” Matt said before the meeting.

The permit wouldn’t allow auto repairs to be conducted there, and the Sturms would have to screen off the property by building a 6-foot fence along the lot’s southern edge. Matt told the planning commission he is researching what type of lighting could be used to illuminate Red City for safety reasons, as well.

The site was home to the former Milo Mach’s Garden Central, but the lot is now vacant.

The permit will be forwarded to the Austin City Council for final approval.

 

Solar energy coming soon

The planning commission tabled a solar energy ordinance draft Tuesday, as well.

Community Development Director Craig Hoium worked with representatives from the Minnesota Solar Challenge, a federal program designed to help communities develop solar ordinances, over the past few months. Hoium said the draft was modeled in part on similar ordinances in Minneapolis and St. Paul, but was not as complex as the metropolitan ordinances.

Planning commission members received the draft on Monday and wanted more time to look through the potential ordinance before making a decision.