Title
Special Use - Car Wash; Kevin Cunningham; 3930 Austell Powder Springs Road, LL 904,
Body
Background:
Kevin M. Cunningham Jr. (applicant) has made application for Special Use at 3930 Austell Powder
Springs Road for the purpose of operating a car wash/detailing business on site. (Please see attached
aerial photo view). Applicant proposes to utilize the existing car wash structure on site to operate this
business. Site and surrounding properties are zoned Community Retail Commercial (CRC). (Please see
attached zoning map).
The applicant is agreeable to the following stipulations if the application for special use is approved:
• Maximum of 5 vehicles to be stored/detailed on site at one time. More specific queuing/parking
plan to be provided to Community Development Director prior to opening.
• All vacuuming/washing/detailing activities to be conducted within existing car wash structure on
site (including associated materials such as buckets, towels, etc.).
• Proposed signage for the business to be consistent with the Powder Springs Unified
Development Code (UDC).
Applicable Unified Development Code and Staff Analysis:
Sec. 13-38. Criteria for Special Use Decisions. Applications for special use shall provide a written analysis
comparing the proposed action with the criteria in this section. The planning commission and the
governing body will take into consideration these standards in making a recommendation and decision,
respectively, on a special use application.
(a) Whether the proposed special use is consistent with the stated purpose of the zoning district in
which it will be located; It is staff’s opinion that the applicant’s use could serve a citywide market and
has appropriate access as specified in Section 2-24 of the UDC.
(b) Whether the establishment of the special use will impede the normal and orderly development of
surrounding property for uses predominate in the area; It is staff’s opinion that the applicant’s intention
of using an existing car wash structure with the associated agreeable stipulations will not impede
orderly area development.
(c) Whether the location and character of the proposed special use are consistent with a desirable
pattern of development in general; Given that the site of the applicant’s proposal has previously housed
a car wash operation and that no alterations are proposed, it is staff’s opinion that the proposed use is
consistent with the area’s general development pattern.
(d) Whether the type of street providing access to the use is or will be adequate to serve the proposed
special use; It is staff’s opinion that both Austell Powder Springs Road and Marietta Street function as
collector roadways and can adequately serve the applicant’s proposed use.
(e) Whether access into and out of the property is or will be adequate to provide for traffic and
pedestrian safety, the anticipated volume of traffic flow, and access by emergency vehicles; It is staff’s
opinion that vehicular and pedestrian traffic (including emergency vehicles) can be adequately managed
in conjunction with the applicant’s proposed use, given agreeable stipulation for city review of queuing
and parking plan.
(f) Whether public facilities such as schools, water or sewer utilities, and police or fire protection are or
will be adequate to serve the special use; It is staff’s opinion that the applicant’s proposed use will not
have an impact on public facilities.
(g) Whether refuse, service, parking and loading areas on the property will be located or screened to
protect other properties in the area from such adverse effects as noise, light, glare or odor; Given that
the site of the applicant’s proposal has previously housed a car wash operation and that no alterations
are proposed, staff does not anticipate any adverse effects to other properties. It is staff’s opinion that
applicant’s agreement to limit number of vehicles and conduct operations within the existing structure
on site will also protect other area properties from adverse effects.
(h) Whether the hours and manner of operation of the special use will have adverse effects on other
properties in the area; Applicant intends to operate the business during daylight hours. Other properties
in the area house businesses that operate during both daylight and evening hours. It is staff’s opinion
that the applicant’s proposed use will not have an adverse effect on these properties.
(i) Whether the height, size or location of the buildings or other structures on the property are or will be
compatible with the height, size or location of buildings or other structures on neighboring properties;
Given that the existing car wash facility on site was more than likely constructed in conjunction with the
convenience retail outlet also on this site, it is staff’s opinion that the height, size and location of the
existing car wash facility (included as part of applicant’s proposed use) is compatible with neighboring
properties.
Staff Recommendation:
Based on the above analysis, staff recommends approval for 12 months subject to the following:
• Maximum of 5 vehicles to be stored/detailed on site at one time. More specific queuing/parking
plan to be provided to Community Development Director prior to opening.
• All vacuuming/washing/detailing activities to be conducted within existing car wash structure on
site (including associated materials such as buckets, towels, etc.).
• Proposed signage for the business to be consistent with the Powder Springs Unified
Development Code (UDC).