Classic car buffs may be pleased to see a new dealership is coming soon to western Shawnee.
Lawrence-based GEB Properties plans to operate a classic auto sales business at 8190 Hedge Lane Terrace.
The Shawnee City Council on Monday approved a special use permit for the classic car business to open in an industrial park near K-7 Highway. The vote was 7-0. Councilmember Jacklynn Walters was absent.
GEB Properties will be located in a planned industrial zone, which also includes other businesses such as Penny’s Concrete and Tarvin Products, a custom cabinet making company.
No date was given for when the business will open.
The location will be used to house classic cars
GEB Properties will be located on more than 4 acres of land, including two industrial buildings. The north building will be used to store five to 10 classic cars on site, with sales primarily conducted online and at various car auctions throughout the area, according to city documents.
Business hours will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The business plans to have one to three employees on site, according to city documents.
Because GEB Properties is conducting automobile sales in a Planned Industrial Zone, which is intended to provide areas for manufacturing, warehousing and limited product wholesale, a special use permit was required.
Since the business will be making most of its car sales online and at auctions, the city determined it would have no adverse impact on surrounding properties, according to city documents.
Shawnee officials see dealership as good addition
While no Shawnee City councilmembers or residents spoke at the meeting, commissioners on the Shawnee Planning Commission spoke positively of the business moving into the area at their meeting on July 21.
“My office is near this area; I drive by there quite a bit,” said Commissioner David Aber. “I think this would be a perfect business to fit back into that location and would work really well.”
Agreeing, Commissioner Bruce Bienhoff said it’s a good fit.
“I do also know that we have a few other similar businesses of this type that operate in this nature, in this similar type of location, and it has not had any challenges with that reported to the commission,” he said. “So I also would agree that I think it’s a good use of the location, and would not have any concerns with the approval.”
Other Shawnee business news: Locally owned Marigold Liquor reopens in revamped downtown Shawnee space
