A Newcastle man is hoping to open an auto repair and state inspection station on Vannah Road in Nobleboro this spring, and is working to get the necessary ducks in a row.
Jonathan McGraw, of Newcastle, and Brian Cookson, who owns the site of the planned repair shop at 145 Vannah Rd., came before the Nobleboro Planning Board Dec. 17.
According to Cookson, the shop itself is already in place and equipped with a vehicle lift. He uses the space to store equipment for his tree service business and to work on his own vehicles and those of his friends.
“I’ve had everything there for years,” he said.
A system is already in place for waste oil disposal, and McGraw said he plans to speak with Clean Harbors, an industrial services provider, about disposal of antifreeze coolant.
McGraw, who has worked as a mechanic for 17 years and describes himself as “kind of a Power Stroke [diesel engines sold by Ford] expert,” said he already has a number of people waiting for the business to open. He plans to work on cars and light trucks.
McGraw assured the planning board he would not store any junk or parts cars on the property, and while he may sell an occasional car, will not sell enough cars to need an used car dealer’s license.
“I’m not a used car dealer. I don’t ever want to be a used car dealer,” he said.
There was an apparent mix-up in the paperwork McGraw and Cookson were required to submit, however, and board Chair Shoshana Zuboff said the men needed to submit a commercial application and undergo a site plan review process.
The planning board may also need to do a site visit as part of that process, Zuboff said. “Then we’d be in a position to deliberate,” she said.
“I want all the T’s crossed and the I’s dotted,” McGraw said.
Reached Dec. 22, McGraw said the need to submit additional materials and go through the review process is a setback, but not the end of the project.
