DERRY — The Zoning Board of Adjustment approved a home auto wholesale business on Norman Drive after raising several questions about the condominium complex covenant and whether automobiles would be parked on the property.

Robin Hatfield of 7R Norman Drive said she is looking to operate an automobile wholesale business out of her home.

“The office would be in the third bedroom,” said Hatfield. “All I want is a desk, computer and a phone in the room to conduct business, make phone calls and send emails.”

With an automobile wholesalers license, Hatfield said she would be purchasing automobiles at wholesaler auctions and then transporting them to other sites, such as the wholesale auction location in Londonderry.

Hatfield said she would not be storing vehicles on her property, but in her application for the special exception, she did ask for the use of two parking spaces on her property for vehicles in case she had to store them for a day or two between transporting them to various auction sites.

“If for some reason we couldn’t take a car from the day it was purchased, we may have to have it at the house for a couple of days, but that would be the extent of it,” she said.

However, board Chairman Allan Virr said the possibility of keeping cars on site put the board in a tricky situation.

“Typically, if we grant a permit or a special exception to be able to run a home business for automobile resale, no cars are allowed on the premises and it is for an office only,” he said.

Board member Donald Burgess also raised a concern about Hatfield’s condominium declaration, which stated that no commercial or business enterprise may be made in a unit or common area of the condominium complex.

However, Hatfield noted that she purchased the unit from the bank in 2003 and that she is the sole member of the condominium association. She said she is working with the county to change the wording in the condominium covenant.

Town building inspector Robert Mackey also pointed out that language in the covenant does allow for professional use of the property, provided it does not change the nature of the property.

Hatfield then agreed with the board that the special exception could be granted for professional use, provided no automobiles are parked on the property.

aswift@newstote.com