County planners recommend approval for Hartway Motors project

Auto dealership wants to take down old structure, put up new maintenance building

ALBION – The Orleans County Planning Board is recommending the Village of Medina approve a project at Hartway Motors that calls for demolishing a building to the north of the dealership and constructing a new maintenance structure behind the current showroom and service department.

The project was before the Planning Board last Thursday. Knocking down the old building, a former Loblaws grocery store, would allow for more parking at Hartway Motors at 320 North Main St.

The dealership’s owner, Bidleman Properties, wants to put a 2,933-square-foot masonry building addition that wouldn’t be used for offices or a showroom. It would provide more room for the maintenance area.

When the building is taken down, a vinyl fence will be installed to the north to provide some privacy for the residential property next door.

The project is in Medina’s Historic Overlay District but is not included on the National or State Registers of Historic Places. County planners suggested Medina have the project go to the State’s Historic Preservation Office for its review. SHPO may suggest the new building have construction materials that match the existing building.

In another Medina referrals, county planners recommended the village approve the site plan and a special use permit for a Class A Home Business for dog grooming at 445 East Center St.

Megan Davenport will be running a dog grooming business from her residence which is in an R1 district. The business will be by appointment with customers dropping off their animal and returning later. Planners said the business is expected to have up to six customers a day in two-hour increments.

Davenport plans to turn a first-floor office into a grooming salon with a professional pet groom tub, table and equipment.