Commissioners approve rezoning for El Car Wash and self-storage site in West Boca

Palm Beach County commissioners voted 7-0 to amend zoning for a 4.2-acre property at Glades Road and Lyons Road to Mixed‑Use Planned Development (MUPD), clearing the way for an El Car Wash and a limited‑access, climate‑controlled self‑storage building.

The request, presented by Don Herring on behalf of the applicant, was described as “to amend the zoning on this property to M.U.P.D.” He said the change would make the parcel consistent with adjacent MUPD zoning, allow “more innovative site development,” and preserve large, mature trees on the site. Herring also described water‑reuse and reverse‑osmosis systems in the car wash that reduce runoff and recirculate water.

The change matters because it aligns the property’s zoning with the parcels immediately east and west, and because the MUPD designation allows design flexibility the applicant said is needed for site layout, interconnectivity with neighboring properties and environmental preservation. Commissioner Sara Sachs, whose district includes the site, told the applicant she initially opposed the project but said the team had “worked very diligently” to make it “palatable” to the community.

Support and conditions presented at the hearing included: - Preservation of two existing on‑site canopy preservation areas and significant front‑buffer trees, which the applicant emphasized in renderings and cross sections; Herring said the plan “is setback significantly” from Glades Road and will preserve the mature oaks. - A staff‑suggested condition to require submission of architectural elevations at the time of Development Review Officer (DRO) review consistent with the elevations shown at the hearing; county staff asked that elevations be filed with the DRO package. - A hiring commitment from the developer to employ people from JARC (a local organization that serves adults with developmental disabilities); Herring said the company’s “full intention” and “commitment” is to hire JARC clients.

Traffic, parking and use mix were discussed. Applicant traffic consultant Adam Kerr (Kimley Horn) was present; Herring and the applicant’s team said that tunnel car washes and storage generate comparatively low net new daily trips versus typical commercial uses and that the self‑storage element typically produces minimal day‑to‑day traffic. Herring also noted features such as RFID access, cameras and controlled access for the storage use.

Commissioner disclosures included multiple commissioners reporting verbal meetings and written communications with the applicant and project team; those were filed with the clerk as required. A public comment card from Leo Abdella (Christ Fellowship Church) indicated support.

The board moved and approved the rezoning and related development approvals by voice vote; the clerk recorded the motion as carrying 7-0. After the vote, Sachs said she was satisfied with the project changes and praised staff and the applicant for outreach and design adjustments.

Votes at a glance: Motion to approve rezoning to MUPD and associated site plan for El Car Wash and self-storage at Glades Road and Lyons Road — Approved 7-0.

Why it matters: The item changes the parcel’s zoning designation to match adjacent properties, allows a car wash with water‑recapture systems and a climate‑controlled storage use, and includes commitments on preservation and local hiring that county officials highlighted in the hearing.

The applicant closed by thanking commissioners for their input and the meeting moved on to other agenda items.