Auto Zone expects to be operating in Wright City by the end of the year and in doing so will be improving the aesthetics of a property that has sat vacant for a lengthy period of time.

A company representative promised city officials at last Thursday's board of aldermen meeting that upkeep of the property should no longer be an issue.

Aldermen last Thursday voted unanimously to approve the conditional use permit for the new Auto Zone, to be located at 441 North Service Road West. The city requested a landscaping plan and is requiring regular maintenance of the property’s exterior, such as mowing.

The city’s planning and zoning commission previously recommended approval of the conditional use permit at its Aug. 18 meeting.

The building has sat vacant for a while as Dollar General constructed a new facility to the west of the property. Since that time, overgrown grass and weeds have been an eyesore.

City officials noted that they have been sending letters to commercial property owners about overgrown grass and have been met with resistance from some.

“I'm glad Auto Zone is here,” Alderman Ramiz Hakim said. “I'm happy that they're here, but I'm also cautiously optimistic, because our town is growing and we're turning a leaf when it comes to some of these rampant maintenance issues.”

Adam Prentiss, Auto Zone representative, noted the company has a dedicated maintenance staff to ensure its buildings and properties remain well-kept.

“I would really like to assure you that the site around our building will be kept in shape, especially because we own this property,” he said.

Prentiss later added, “One thing we're very proud of as a company is that our stores do not close. So as long as Auto Zone is in business, we will be in your city. We certainly don't plan on purchasing a property and opening up a store and not cutting our grass.”