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File #: PZ 24-008    Version: 1
Type: Special Use Status: Passed
File created: 2/6/2024 In control: City Council
On agenda: 4/1/2024 Final action: 4/1/2024
Title: Special Use Request to allow a car wash in a CRC zoned district. The property is located at 3915 Austell Powder Springs Road (Stars Car Wash), within land lot 905 of the 19th District, 2nd Section, Cobb County, Georgia. PIN: 19090500060.
Code sections: Table 2-3 - Permitted and Special Uses in Mixed-Use and Non-residential Zoning Districts
Attachments: 1. Special Use Application Redacted, 2. Site Plan, 3. Executed Tabled to 04-01-2024 Motion PZ 24-008, 4. Signed PZ 24-008

CASE NUMBER:   PZ24-008

APPLICANT: Mr. Jaquan Harris

SPECIAL USE REQUEST: Special Use Request to allow a self-service car wash and auto detailing in a CRC zoned district. 

LOCATION: 3915 Austell Powder Springs Road (Stars Car Wash).

ZONING: CRC                               ACRES:  1.68-acres                      PIN: 19090500060

 

Staff Recommendation:  APPROVAL                      Planning and Zoning:

                     

 

     

BACKGROUND:  Mr. Harris wishes to operate self-service car wash and an auto detailing service at the Stars Car Wash facility. The subject property has facilities in place for self-service car wash, as well as auto detailing. Special Use approval is required per Table 2-3 of the UDC.

The special use request meets the intent of the CRC zoning district as the site is located along a commercial corridor. In addition, the facility already has car wash bays designated for auto detailing services.

 

SURROUNDING AREA: Commercial use prevails in the area where the CRC zoning predominates. The subject site also has complimentary automotive service uses operated by others: Oil change, brakes, tires, and emissions. Residential zoning is located behind the subject site.

Figure 1. Vicinity Map

 

Figure 2. Zoning District.

 

 

Figure 3. Stars Car Wash.

 

 

Figure 4. Site plan.

 

 

ANALYSIS:

The application was reviewed against the following criteria:

 

1.                     Will the proposed special use be consistent with the stated purpose of the zoning district in which it will be located?

The CRC district is intended to provide for commercial uses that serves a citywide and regional market. The auto detailing service will be located at a designated car wash facility.

 

2.                     Will the establishment of the special use not impede the normal and orderly development of the surrounding property for uses predominate in the area?

The car wash will be located at an existing car wash facility - Stars Car Wash.  Auto detailing and hand washing will be conducted in 2 designated bays. This special use will complement the uses that prevail at the subject site, and will not impede other commercial activity in the area.

 

3.                     Is the location and character of the proposed special use consistent with a desirable pattern of development in general?

The subject site is in the CRC zoning district which encourages commercial uses that will serve the city.

The subject site is surrounded by commercial activities along the Austell Powder Springs Road corridor.  The proposed request is consistent with the requirement of the Unified Development Code.

 

4.                     Is or will the type of street providing access to the use be adequate to serve the proposed special use?

The immediate region of Austell Powder Springs Road is an established commercial corridor. It is the staff’s opinion that there will be no negative traffic or safety concerns with the establishment of the proposed hand car wash.

 

 

5.                     Is or will access into and out of the property be adequate to provide for traffic and pedestrian safety, the anticipated volume of traffic flow, and access by emergency vehicles?

The site has adequate access via two separate driveways for ingress and egress. The site should provide for adequate vehicle circulation.

 

6.                     Are or will public facilities such as schools, water or sewer utilities, and police or fire protection be adequate to serve the proposed use?

The proposed use will not have any impact on school capacity. The car wash will be utilizing the existing car wash bays, with 2 of the 8 bays designated for auto detailing services. Water and drainage systems are already installed. The proposed request should not have any negative impact as infrastructure for the services are already in place to serve the proposed request. 

 

7.                     Are or will refuse, service, parking and loading areas on the property be located or screened to protect other properties in the area from such adverse effects as noise, light, glare, or odor?

The car wash will be at an established self-service car wash and automotive services facility that is adequately buffered from residential uses located to the east of the facility, as shown in figure 1.

 

8.                     Will the hours and manner of operation of the special use have no adverse effects on other properties in the area?

The proposed opening hours for the car wash is from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm during the summer months and 7:00 am to 6:00 pm during the winter months. The proposed hours of operation will be mostly daylight hours and should not have an adverse effect on neighboring properties.

 

9.                     Will the height, size or location of the buildings or other structures on the property be compatible with the height, size or location of buildings or other structures on neighboring properties?

This is an existing carwash and automotive services facility car. There will be no additional structures added or constructed.

 

 

 

 

 

PARKING ANALYSIS

 

UDC Table 6-4 provides that Car wash, staffed or automated, provides a minimum of 2 stacking spaces for each car wash lane plus 2 drying spaces per lane. The number of wash bays designated for auto detailing is 2. Therefore, a minimum of 4 spaces are required, per the staffed car wash requirement.

 

Automotive service and repair require a minimum of 1 space per 250-sf. At approx. 2000-sf, the minimum requirement is 8 spots for the automotive service uses.

 

The existing conditions at Stars Car Wash are: 9 spots in the rear and 4 spots in the front for a total of 13. This satisfies the minimum parking requirement of 12, across the uses at the location.

 

 

Self-service car wash is not specifically called out in the UDC - staff’s interpretation is that self-service users are intended to wash and dry within the bay they occupy, thus no parking requirement for self-service is mentioned in the UDC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

STAFF RECOMMENDATION:

 

Staff recommends approval of PZ 24-008 with the following conditions:

 

1.                     This Special Use request is approved for Star Car Wash, located at 3915 Austell Powder Springs Road. A maximum of 2 wash bays shall be designated for auto detailing service, and detailing services shall only be conducted within the designated bays.

 

2.                     All water run-off shall be confined to sewer drains within the carwash bays. No stormwater runoff.

 

3.                     The hours of operation will be within 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM during Daylight Savings; and 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM when Daylight Savings is not active (winter). The applicant shall abide by the daylight savings actual dates and modify the operating hours accordingly. 

 

4.                     Any additional signage must be properly permitted and be consistent with the provisions of Powder Springs Unified Development Code (UDC).

 

5.                     For auto detailing, a maximum of two (2) additional vehicles are allowed to be queued for service, along with the two (2) in the auto detailing bay, for a total of four (4) customers on site at any one time for staffed hand wash and auto detailing services. No overnight storage of vehicles is permitted.

 

6.                     There shall be no music or loud noise being emitted from vehicles or this operation.

 

7.                     Operations shall be conducted within the car wash bays consistent with the site plan attached to this application.

 

8.                     Violation of the conditions of approval will render the approval null and void.