The owner of the vacant Smithfield Glass & Mirror automotive shop is seeking Isle of Wight County’s approval to repurpose the site.

Gerald Peade of Prince George County filed paperwork in June for an amendment to the 1.25-acre property’s conditional zoning that would allow “full service” motor vehicle repair services and “garden center” uses, specifically retail sales of mulch and topsoil.

Peade proposes to lease the brick and metal building to a prospective tenant. Peade plans to construct an enclosed bulk mulch and topsoil sales and storage area behind the existing building and screened from the public right-of-way.

The new automotive and garden center businesses would operate separately but utilize the same office and employees, “Much like I did previously when I operated Smithfield Glass and Action Tire & Brake simultaneously in this location,” Peade writes in his application.

The site is located on Courthouse Highway just outside the borders of the town of Smithfield. It was rezoned from agricultural general commercial to conditional business general in 1988 to allow for Smithfield Glass and Mirror to begin operating.

Isle of Wight’s Planning Commission gave Peade’s proposal a favorable recommendation at its June 28 meeting. The Board of Supervisors has scheduled a public hearing for July 21. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the boardroom of the Isle of Wight County government complex at Monument Circle.