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Planning Commission recommends Board of Appeals approve special exception for auto repair at East Diamond Avenue
Summary
The Gaithersburg Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the Board of Appeals approve BOA-10023-2025, a special exception to allow an automobile repair and service establishment (Crash Champions) at 423–427 East Diamond Avenue, subject to six staff conditions.
The Gaithersburg Planning Commission on March 19 unanimously recommended that the Board of Appeals approve BOA‑10023‑2025, a special exception to allow an automobile repair and service establishment at 423 and 427 East Diamond Avenue in the Central Business District.
Planning staff introduced the application as a recommendation to the Board of Appeals. Caroline (planning staff) told commissioners that the property is zoned CBD and that “all new automobile repair and service establishments require special exception” even though an auto repair use previously operated at the site. Attorney Peter Saferi, representing the applicant Crash Champions, said the applicant accepts staff’s findings and conditions: “we entirely agree with the staff's recommendation and conditions.”
The applicant said the business has been on the site since about the 1980s and that the current petition was driven by a change in ownership and a prior zoning change that now requires a special exception. Peter Saferi said no building additions are proposed; the principal on‑site changes are restriping the parking lot to meet current code and relocating screening for existing dumpsters. In response to a commissioner’s question about tow trucks and deliveries, Michael Haines, the location’s general manager, said the practice is to stage tow‑truck drop‑offs as far back in the alley as possible to keep vehicles off the main street.
Commissioners asked about parking; the applicant pointed to the site plan and noted there are 32 parking spaces overall, two of which are ADA spaces. Staff’s recommendation includes six conditions (listed in the record) intended to address operational and site improvements.
A motion to recommend approval to the Board of Appeals, citing the exhibits, applicant testimony and the staff report, passed unanimously. The Planning Commission’s action was a recommendation only; final approval rests with the Board of Appeals.
The commission record shows no members of the public spoke for or against the special exception at the Planning Commission hearing.
The board and staff will forward the recommendation, the record exhibits and the six recommended conditions to the Board of Appeals for final action.
