Timothy and Paula Connaghan will be allowed to operate their car repair business, Crabtree Automotive, at 1020 and 1110 Hill St. S.E., following action taken Wednesday by the Albany City Council.

The council gave tentative approval for the operation with the condition that the new property owners meet state Department of Environmental Quality sound regulations.

Formerly zoned heavy industrial, the property was rezoned for office and professional uses in 2003. The new zoning does not allow the repair shop.

The planning commission approved a change in a non-conforming use to permit the shop based on findings that the business would have less impact on their neighborhood than the current industrial use.

Marianne McDonald, who lives in Salem but owns property near the site, appealed the planning commission's decision to the council.

She objected to the new business, saying it would create more noise, increase traffic on Hill Street, cause possible contamination of nearby wells, and there was the potential of increased crime at the location because of the amount of metal kept on hand by a car repair business, said city spokeswoman Marilyn Smith.

The Connaghans intend to make several improvements to the property if they moved their business there.

Smith said insulation and gypsum wallboard would be added to buffer against noise. Landscaping would be placed at the site, and the façade would be redesigned. Blackberry bushes would be removed from the back of the building and deep holes would be filled.

The city council is expected to give final approval at its Aug. 27 session.

Other business

The Albany City Council on Wednesday dealt with the following items:

- Decided unanimously without discussion to give National Frozen Foods $46,000 to be used to find a new way to treat and dispose of the plant's processed vegetable waste.

- Accepted an Oregon Parks and Recreation Department grant of $480,000 to develop Kinder Park on Oak Street. The council asked to see the proposed park design before anything was built.

- Mayor Dan Bedore asked bicyclists to join him on a short ride starting at 9 a.m. Aug. 24 in the Costco parking lot. Bicyclists would head to Timber-Linn Memorial Park to attend the Northwest Art & Air Festival. The cycling event would serve as a kick-off to September's bike commute month.

- The mayor announced he and staff met with representative of Signs of Victory Albany Mission about moving its operation from leased quarters at 705 Lyon St. S.E. The groups discussed other possible sites for the mission.

Cathy Ingalls