DANVILLE — A gas station received initial approval Thursday night to resume auto repairs.

The Danville Area Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approving a rezoning petition Thursday night for the independent Dixie Pit Stop gas station, formerly Bob’s Marathon, at Williams and Vermilion streets.

City council members will act on the petition on Feb. 19.

Property owner Alex Ikbariah is requesting that the zoning of the property at 445 N. Vermilion St. be changed from B4 central business zoning to B3 general business for the purpose of conducting minor automotive repairs inside the existing gas station at that location.

Sam Saleh leases the property to operate the gas station.

The rezoning is needed even though the gas station has long been there because auto repairs had stopped, according to Chris Milliken, planning and zoning manager with the city.

The bays were shut down and not used for auto repairs.

Attorney Frank Young, speaking for the petitioners, said the property changed hands in September 2011.

The added services will include oil changes, tire rotations, tune-ups and other minor automotive repairs, Young said.

A couple entrances at the property will be closed, lighting will be added, both street sides will be landscaped more, a 6-foot fence around the trash area will be added and all the cars will be removed there, he said.

Young said hours for the automotive repairs will be fewer than the gas station is open.

There will be two part-time employees to perform the automotive repairs, with the possibility for growth.

If there is any overnight storage of vehicles, they will be stored inside, Young said.

In other business, the commission:

• Heard from Danville Public Development Director John Heckler this was his last meeting as a department head overseeing zoning.

His duties will change toward housing development and neighborhood issues under Mayor Scott Eisenhauer’s proposed reorganization of city departments.

• Recommended approving a request by the city that Chapter 150 of the city code, known as the Danville Zoning Ordinance, allow animated signs in the B4 central business zoning district.

The proposed ordinance changes also incorporate new wording that prohibits animated signs being only red or green in color within 150 feet of a traffic-controlled intersection and not everywhere as the language states today.

• Discussed a proposed ordinance for regulating wind energy systems.

Draft ordinance language for wind turbines for businesses in the city calls for them not to be placed within the front yard of any lot and not in residential areas.

The turbines could be erected in specific RR rural residential, AG agricultural, P-1 professional, B-3 general business and I-1 and I-2 industrial zoning districts.

The height for the small wind energy system could be 100 feet in the RR, P-1 or B-3 zoning districts, or 150 feet high in the AG, I-1 or I-2 zoning districts. Some regulations listed, such as tower access, color and removal of abandoned systems, are similar to regulations for cell towers.

Commissioners, including Chris Hanson and Ted Vacketta, said they are pleased the city is taking a pro-active approach to regulations. Hanson said the turbines are cost prohibitive for a lot of businesses now, but could be considered more in the next five years.

“It’s pretty simple and straight forward,” Milliken said of the proposed ordinance.

The commission will consider acting on a final ordinance in the near future.

Turbines are not allowed now in Danville’s city’s limits.