Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Commercial Development Traffic topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission approves preliminary plan for 5 Star Auto Spa; traffic and entrance placement discussed
Summary
The commission approved a preliminary plan for a car wash and vacuum enclosure at Apple Harvest Drive and Winchester Avenue; commissioners discussed traffic, vehicle access, and Department of Highways review during the hearing.
The Berkeley County Planning Commission voted to approve the preliminary plan for 5 Star Auto Spa (file 2308-269), a proposed 6,855-square-foot car wash and a 10,290-square-foot vacuum enclosure on approximately 1.46 acres at the intersection of Apple Harvest Drive and Winchester Avenue.
Planning staff reported the project met subdivision ordinance requirements and noted a prior waiver (granted Aug. 5, 2024) reduced a required 25-foot buffer between commercial and residential uses. County Engineer Doug Smith had previously deemed the project compliant on Dec. 19, 2024, and staff recommended approval of the preliminary plan.
The applicant, represented by Hong Kim, answered commissioners’ questions about access and traffic. Commissioners focused on points of access and whether additional review or traffic studies were required by the West Virginia Department of Highways (WVDOH). The applicant said the developer did not submit a traffic study but had discussed entrance placement and the county had requested a dedicated right-turn lane. Commissioners noted the intersection is busy and urged attention to safe access; one commissioner remarked that it seemed extraordinary that the busiest local intersection did not require heightened WVDOH scrutiny.
Commissioner Lewis moved and Commissioner Goff seconded a motion to accept staff recommendations and approve the preliminary plan. The motion carried with no recorded opposition.
Staff and the commission noted that final engineering and any WVDOH requirements will be addressed in later stages of review. The approval allows the applicant to proceed to the next phase of the subdivision and review process, including final engineering and permitting.
