Commerical Change of Use City Issue

[Chris G.]

We've been trying to rent this unique commercial building for months now, finally have a prospect but the previous use was small engine repair and the new proposed use is auto part retail. Out front of the building just has a gravel driveway and parking area with 3-4 parking bumpers. The city requires the whole front (around 350 sq yds) to be asphalt with actual painted parking spots. My goal was to have the prospect fill out a change of use application so an inspector can come out and give a list of things that need to be changed or added and from there we would discuss with the prospect who pays for what or how we can split the upgrades required. After we have a list we can require the prospect to pay the security deposit and sign the lease before we pay a bunch for paving the front and any other requirements which makes sense to me, that way we don't pay a bunch and then he decides not to rent it anymore.

Well according to the city for whatever reason the parking lot has to be paved before they can even go out an inspect the property, to me this makes no sense. We're being required to pay $10,000+ just so the city can accept the application and come out and make a list of what other requirements they need for the change of use and the prospect moving in. For example if they inspect the building and come up with a list of requirements that will cost $10,000+ that the prospect would have to pay he's likely to back out and not move forward which makes sense. Just not sure what to do here, you'd think they could spend 15 minutes to go inspect and give you a better idea of what's needed.