Blaine Weighs Revoking Auto Repair Shop Permit
Drivers who use Minnesota Performance on 91st Ave. NE should check the shop's status as the city's hearing continues to Dec. 7.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Car Maintenance
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Should local businesses get more time to fix code violations before losing permits?
The Blaine City Council voted 6-1 to continue a public hearing until Dec. 7 on revoking the conditional use permit held by Minnesota Performance, an auto repair business at 2550 91st Ave. NE. The city began the revocation process on Nov. 2 after unresolved permit and outdoor vehicle storage violations.
Why it matters
The dispute centers on whether a local auto repair shop can keep operating as its expansion plans and outdoor vehicle storage remain out of compliance with city rules. For drivers and neighbors who rely on independent repair shops, a revocation would mean losing a nearby service option, while the outcome also affects how strictly Blaine enforces permit terms on similar businesses.
Minnesota Performance first received its conditional use permit in 2019 and was granted a revised approval on June 1 allowing expansion and storage of up to six vehicles outside. The council set an Oct. 1 compliance deadline, and the business's attorney has requested Dec. 2 instead.
The players
Blaine City Council
The elected body of Blaine, Minnesota, which governs local land use and conditional use permits that affect neighborhood businesses.
Minnesota Performance
An auto repair business at 2550 91st Ave. NE whose permit and expansion status is under review by the city.
Leslie Larson
A Blaine City Council member who cast the lone dissenting vote on continuing the hearing.
Tim Sanders
The mayor of Blaine, who said another extension would probably be the last.
The details
In 2025 city staff documented work done without a building permit and an expansion carried out without a permit amendment. The council tabled the business's amendment request on Jan. 5 and denied it on March 16 before approving a revised request on June 1. Staff documented violations after that approval and sent a formal notice in September, which led the council to continue the public hearing until Dec. 7 rather than act immediately.
Timeline
2019: Minnesota Performance first received its conditional use permit.
2025: Staff documented unpermitted work and an unpermitted expansion.
Jan. 5: The council tabled the amendment request.
March 16: The council denied the amendment request.
June 1: The council approved a revised expansion request with an Oct. 1 compliance deadline.
The Home Front
Revocation proceedings over conditional use permits are a standard municipal tool for managing how commercial uses fit within residential and mixed-use zones. Repeated extensions followed by a revocation process reflect the kind of permit-compliance enforcement that cities apply to local businesses across the Twin Cities area.
If you use a local independent shop for brakes, tires, or routine service, check whether it is operating under current city permits before scheduling work. Keep your service records and receipts on file so you can move your vehicle maintenance history to another shop if needed.
The takeaway
Permit compliance can change whether a neighborhood repair shop stays open, so it is worth knowing where your mechanic stands with the city. Keep a copy of your maintenance records so you can continue service elsewhere without losing your vehicle's history.
What happens next
The Blaine City Council will resume the public hearing on Dec. 7 to consider revoking Minnesota Performance's conditional use permit, with the business's requested Dec. 2 compliance deadline falling before that date.
Further reading
For more on how repair shops keep their service schedules on track, see Car Maintenance coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hometownsource.
Live Poll
Should local businesses get more time to fix code violations before losing permits?
