Board of Appeals continues Bridal Wave Auto Spa appeal after extended testimony on site design, buffers and traffic

The St. Mary's County Board of Appeals on Jan. 9, 2025 continued until Feb. 27, 2025 an appeal of a planning commission denial and related variances for Bridal Wave Auto Spa (ZAAP 23-0309), a proposed car wash and vacuum facility on 3 Notch Road in California, Maryland.

The applicant, represented by attorney Chris Longmore, asked the board to overturn a Planning Commission denial on Oct. 7, 2024 and grant concept site plan approval and multiple variances tied to the design. The development under review includes a 3,615-square-foot tunnel car wash, a 367-square-foot accessory building, and 15 vacuum stations on roughly 4.44 acres, according to the applicant's presentation and the staff report. Stacy Clements, planner III in the Department of Land Use and Growth Management, summarized the staff findings and notice procedures at the start of the hearing: “Tonight's public hearing is zoning appeal 23-0309, the Bridal Wave Auto Spa,” she said.

Why it matters: The application seeks exceptions to landscaping and buffer rules that are intended to separate commercial and residential uses and to manage stormwater and site impacts. Board members said they needed more information about sound, equipment specifications, stormwater and some operational details before deciding on the variances and the de novo appeal.

What was requested and why: The applicant asked for several variances from the…