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Greenfield auto shop destroyed in fire asks for community's help to rebuild

Posted at 9:37 AM, Dec 11, 2017
and last updated 2017-12-11 11:29:48-05

GREENFIELD, Ind. -- "We need your help!"

It's a plea posted on Mueller Auto Body and Glass Shop's Facebook page from December 7.

The auto body and glass shop was destroyed by a fire on November 10.

The fire also spread to stores in the Riley Park Plaza next to the auto body shop. The cause of the fire remains under investigation although the fire chief says they think it may have started in the back of the building and spread

PREVIOUS |Greenfield fire seen for miles spread from auto shop to nearby plaza

"We have so much to be thankful for and we are truly blessed," the post on Mueller's Auto Body and Glass Shop's Facebook page reads, "But in a lot of ways our hurdles are just beginning."

Those hurdles, according to Matt Pfeiffer, are due to zoning issues.

Pfeiffer, whose family owns Mueller's, says the business was built in 1958 and purchased by his family in 1985.

According to Pfeiffer, the zoning laws have changed over time and they were grandfathered in. Now that the business must be rebuilt, they are facing pushback from the city.

On the Planning Commission agenda is a request to change the zoning map from a local business to a planned business and residence,to local residence to allow the rebuilding of a legal non-conforming auto body shop and enclosed storage.

Pfeiffer said they are simply asking the city for variance.

Pfeiffer is asking community members to attend a zoning meeting at the McClarnon Government Center on Monday, December 11, at 7 p.m. He believes a show of community support could change the commission's mind and allow for the auto body to be rebuilt on E. Main Street under current code.

A petition has also been created to save the local, family-owned business. You can find the petition here.

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