Once rejected, Palatine auto business receives approval to stay open

When his plan to open an auto shop was rejected by the village council last May after he'd already invested $275,000 in the project, Palatine businessman Ira Kosova said he had to laugh or else he would cry.

There was no need for tears from Kosova earlier this week.

The village council voted unanimously Tuesday to allow Kosova's business to remain open at 646-648 E. Northwest Highway, following a six-month trial period during which he put at ease concerns that the operation would be too loud for the nearby residential neighborhood.

"It's a happy ending and we don't get too many of those," said councilman Brad Helms, who twice voted against Kosova's plan before voting for it at the village council meeting Tuesday.

Helms was not the only former opponent whose mind was changed. Resident Fred Hall told the council that while he was against the plan last year, he and his neighbors monitored the operation - called Action Auto Services Inc. - since last summer. He said he was pleased to report that the business has not caused any problems.

"I'm elated, absolutely elated about all of that," Kosova said.

Ben Vyverburg, the village's director of planning and economic development, said the business has been operating without issue and village staff had no concerns about it going forward.

Kosova said he worked hard to abide by the village's conditions, which included spending about $17,000 on noise suppression equipment such as insulated garage doors and quieter tools.

"I'm a man of word and we did it," he said.

The stakes were high for Kosova to get his business up and running last year because he had already spent $275,000 on the building before receiving village approval.

"It seemed like I was just going uphill and uphill and uphill to prove what I was doing was correct and I couldn't see the top of the mountain," Kosova said of that time of uncertainty. "It was just a climb."

Kosova this week thanked the village and his business' neighbors for giving him a chance.

"Now I just hope the business continues to grow," he said.