City Approves Permit for Tesla Service Center

The Tesla Service Center in University City is one step closer to reality. On Monday, the University City City Council approved a conditional use permit (CUP) for the business to operate at 8664 Olive Blvd.

The permit was approved 6-0. Councilman Terry Crow was not in attendance at Monday's meeting.

As reported in January, Tesla is putting service centers in 20 cities across the United States. Tesla explained why they are putting service centers in places like St. Louis in its blog:

We believe service is a top priority for every customer. At the beginning of 2012 we had 10 Stores, 1 Gallery and 9 Service Centers in the United States. At the end of this year, we plan to have 19 Stores, 3 Galleries and 26 Service Centers. In less than three months from now we will have more Tesla Service Centers in the United States than Stores and Galleries combined. We are opening service centers in numerous cities where we do not even have stores.

This will ensure that all customers in these areas will have access to Tesla certified technicians, despite the fact that we do not have a store in the immediate area. By the end of this year, over 85% of all Model S reservation holders in North America will be within 50 miles of a Tesla Service Center. 92% will be within 100 miles. Service is a top priority at Tesla and always will be.

Conditions on the permit include:

• The shop will be a vehicle repair facility with the exception of auto body work.
• The hours of operation will be be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
• There will be no outdoor storage of wrecked or immobilized vehicles on the property.
• Processes and equipment employed shall be limited to those which are not objectionable by reason of odor, dust, smoke, noise, vibration, refuse, water-carried waste, pollutants or other matter which in any manner creates a nuisance beyond the property.