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Committee discusses zoning amendment to limit new auto washes within half‑mile of existing facilities
Summary
Staff presented a proposed code amendment that would bar new standalone car washes within a half‑mile of existing auto wash uses; Planning Commission recommended the change 6‑0 and committee members debated grandfathering, whether to exclude gas station accessory washes and buffer distance.
City staff presented a proposed amendment to the Perrysburg zoning code that would prohibit a new standalone auto wash from locating within one half mile of an existing auto‑wash use.
The Planning Commission previously recommended the amendment 6‑0 at its January meeting. The amendment is intended to prevent oversaturation of auto‑wash businesses, preserve vacant parcels for broader economic development, and reduce the number of abandoned or underutilized car‑wash properties.
Staff said the amendment would grandfather existing car washes at their current locations. The presenter noted the amendment would also clarify that accessory car‑wash mechanisms at car dealerships are not treated as standalone public car wash uses. The draft language would also cover gas‑station accessory washes, though committee members debated whether gas‑station add‑on car washes should be treated differently from purpose‑built commercial car‑washes.
Committee members raised several issues: whether replacements after catastrophic damage should be grandfathered, whether the half‑mile buffer should be reduced to a quarter mile, and whether the ordinance should count car washes located in adjacent jurisdictions (Perrysburg Township or Rossford) when measuring proximity. Staff and members discussed mapping of existing facilities — references were made to locations near Helen Drive, the French Quarter area, Speedway, Circle K and an abandoned facility near Kroger — and asked staff to produce maps showing different buffer distances to inform a final decision.
No committee vote to send the amendment to City Council is recorded in the committee transcript; members agreed the general intent is sound and asked staff and the Historic Landmarks Commission (for separate historic‑district matters) to prepare clarifying language and outreach. Committee members also discussed grandfathering replacement rights for existing car washes and options to adjust buffer distances if needed.
If advanced, the proposal will require formal ordinance drafting and public hearings before City Council and, where applicable, further review by the Planning Commission and interjurisdictional coordination on how adjacent municipal facilities are treated.
