A tire shop is not known for polished appearances so at AC Tires in Mount Vernon, business continued and tires kept getting balanced and aligned until about two years ago when residents of the surrounding neighborhood of Gum Springs let it be known that AC was due for a makeover.

Tires were being stored in an unsightly fashion and residents of the apartments that overlooked AC Tires wanted to see some improvements, so the county stepped in to reveal some code violations as well. But after the owner made some little changes, everyone came out winners. The tires are now stored inside and the work is being done correctly so customers continue to come and go.

The AC owner Alusine Canteh was happy with the dialogue. “They listened to me,” he said.

It wasn’t easy though and there is still a special exception on the zoning documents pertaining to the split zoning that was discovered once the proceedings started. Part of the property is zoned residential and part commercial so zoning officials are working to straighten that out. Part of the property will be impacted by the Bus Rapid Transit when that comes through on the edge of AC’s footprint.

During one of the hearings last December, officials on both sides of the issue had a chance to vocalize their concerns, and that list of speakers included Queenie Cox, a respected resident and leader of Gum Springs that traditionally speaks for her community.

While the land use was "a use that was not supported by Gum Springs," she said, but things seem to be better now.

Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck was involved and put a positive note in his newsletter. “Approved a special exception for AC Tires on Richmond Highway, allowing the business owner to install tires inside the existing building as part of its current tire sales operation. Thank you to MVCCA and the New Gum Springs Civic Association leadership for their work throughout this process,” it read. 

At a Jan. 13 Gum Springs meeting, they voiced support for the application, and the Mount Vernon Council reiterated support in a letter, but wanted the owner to start the process of rezoning, which is underway.