Council raises display limit for Wilbraham Road car lot after neighborhood review, with parking condition

The Springfield City Council approved an amendment to a 2008 special permit for used-car sales at 67 Wilbraham Road, increasing the number of vehicles allowed for display after neighborhood council review — but the council modified the petitioner’s requested count after staff raised customer-parking concerns.

Petitioners sought to expand from five displayed vehicles to a larger number. Planning staff reviewed the site plan and recommended a smaller increase so customer parking would remain available. Neighborhood representatives and several councilors supported the business, noting long-standing community ties and that the neighborhood council had walked the property and offered unanimous support.

After debate, the council amended the condition describing the site plan so that six vehicles would be on the front display and six on the side (a 6-and-6 configuration), and the petitioner agreed to provide an updated drawing to the planning office showing the final layout. Councilors emphasized the need for customer parking and for the petitioner to keep inspection and customer access clear.

The council adopted the planning staff findings and approved the permit amendment with the amended condition; the petitioner committed to submit the updated site plan reflecting the approved display configuration.