Council approves rezoning to allow car wash at NE Green Oaks; signs and code compliance required before certificate of occupancy

Arlington City Council approved a rezoning request that will allow a car wash to return to a site at 2809 Northeast Green Oaks Boulevard, city staff and the applicant said.

The property contains a convenience store and an adjacent building that previously housed a car wash; the car wash has been out of operation since November 2023 and lost its legally nonconforming status after being abandoned for more than six months. The applicant, Luis Hernandez of LE Engineering, told the council that the owner bought the property about eight months ago and intends to refurbish the site and install a new in-bay car wash system.

Council member Peel moved approval of planned-development zoning (PD 24-29) to allow community commercial uses plus a car wash; Council member Hunter seconded. The motion passed. The council included a condition that all signs and related elements must comply with the city’s Unified Development Code before issuance of the certificate of occupancy for the car wash.

Why it matters: The rezoning restores an on-site car wash use that had been discontinued. Council members said the proposal represents a reuse of an existing structure and an investment to bring the property up to current city standards. Council member Hogg said he supported the repurposing and asked staff to ensure code compliance; staff confirmed signage and certain window signage would be addressed before the CO is issued.

Next steps: Staff will enforce the condition that all signage and related code requirements be corrected before the city issues a certificate of occupancy for the car wash.