Board tables manual car wash expansion at West Twelfth Avenue after document issues and code concerns

A request to expand and legalize a manual car wash canopy at 5350 West Twelfth Avenue drew extended discussion at the March 26 Planning and Zoning Board meeting and was tabled after staff and the board identified defects in the applicant’s authorization documents.

The application sought to regularize an existing manual car wash operation originally allowed by a 1989 special-use permit, replace illegal aluminum canopies built without permits, and construct a new 560-square-foot canopy in the location allowed by the 1989 approval. Staff said the shopping center originally had a permitted 260-square-foot canopy but an additional 460-square-foot canopy was later added without building permits and does not meet current code and fire-department requirements.

Staff recommended allowing a single new 560-square-foot canopy in the original approved location, demolition of the illegal 460-square-foot canopy, replacement or mitigation of 16 canopy trees (to return to the originally approved 20), and a requirement to provide the new roof and tree mitigation within six months as part of site-review submittal. Staff also noted parking counts: the original approval showed 106 spaces; a current survey counted 104 spaces.

Applicant representative Javier Guyton spoke on behalf of property owner Dr. Hasin Tolan and said the management intends to improve the operation and replace lost trees; the property manager described neighborhood crime issues near the site and argued that upgrading the car wash would improve the corner. Building and fire staff told the board the existing 460-square-foot canopy could not be legalized in its current form because it does not meet current code and because of its location on a driveway.

During the hearing the board determined the applicant’s power of attorney was defective under Florida requirements: the notary and witness pages were not combined correctly and a Florida witness/notary requirement was not met. Because the person presenting lacked valid authorization to represent the owner, the board voted to table the item and asked the applicant to correct the paperwork and return on April 9.

A motion to table was made and passed; the board recorded affirmative votes and set the item for the April 9 meeting. Staff advised that no demolition or permit work should proceed until the authorization documents are corrected and permits are applied for in proper form.