Brooklyn Center Small Engine Shop Needs Permit to Stay Open
The owner of a Brooklyn Center small engine repair shop is worried the city will shut down his business. City employees say he needs a permit to continue.
Nick Phillips turned his garage into his home office where he operates his business, Nick’s Small Engines.
“I would say I service around 150 machines a month, so it is pretty substantial for one person,” Phillips said. “Started as a small hobby, just doing it on the side for local neighbors. It has kind of grown from there.”
Ten years in service without a hitch. That is, until last November.
“Here I am trying to fix them and I’m getting fined by the city,” Phillips said. “I am obviously not doing anything different now than I’ve done for the past 10 years. The city has never had a problem with it.”
Brooklyn Center Community Development Director Jesse Anderson said for the past 10 years, Phillips’ business flew under the city’s radar. The city learned of Nick’s Small Engines in November when someone reported it.
“A home business is allowed in some certain situations, and there’s restrictions on some,” Anderson said.
Small engine repair businesses, Anderson said, require a permit. Anderson also said that equipment cannot sit in the yard of a residential property.
“All of the storage outside was kind of what prompted our attention,” Anderson said.
Small engines brought for repairs.
Phillips said inspectors come by his house weekly. He received a letter in the mail calling for $125 citation. The letter called for Phillips to get a special use permit for his job.
The letter asked Phillips to remove the inoperable lawn mowers from his lawn, per city ordinances 35-405 and 35-406. It also said that no home should keep equipment that is not typically found on a home lot, nor should they sell merchandise.
Phillips worries the city will shut down his business. He said this would be devastating, as more small engine repair businesses close their doors.
“We have been here forever. We answer our phone whenever it rings,” Phillips said. “We are trying to do the right thing and make a business here where people seem to have a need.”
Anderson said Nick’s Small Engines still has a chance.
“I think if the items outside were cleaned up and they applied to the city council for their conditional use permit, there is a path forward,” Anderson said.
Phillips and city employees will meet to discuss his citation on Friday, July 28.
