Committee adopts amendment and continues Geary Boulevard hand-car-wash ordinance to Oct. 6

The Land Use and Transportation Committee on Sept. 29 adopted a substantive amendment to an ordinance that would modify the Geary Boulevard Neighborhood Commercial District to authorize outdoor hand washing, vacuuming and detailing of automobiles as an accessory use at certain automotive service stations.

Supervisor Connie Chan, sponsor of the ordinance, said the change is intended to "help an existing and beloved car handwashing business" that operates at a gas station in the Richmond and to keep neighborhood-serving services accessible. Chan proposed an amendment to clarify the legislation applies to both current and future gas stations in the Geary Neighborhood Commercial District.

Planning Department staff informed the committee the Planning Commission had recommended broader amendments: to allow hand washing as an accessory use at automotive service stations citywide and to remove limits tied to uses in existence as of the ordinance's effective date.

Because the committee adopted Supervisor Chan's amendment and the change was considered substantive, the chair moved to continue the ordinance to the committee's next meeting on Oct. 6 for further consideration. The clerk recorded three ayes and the motion to continue passed.

No public comment was submitted to the committee on this item. The committee did not adopt the underlying ordinance at this meeting; action on the ordinance will resume Oct. 6, when the committee will consider the amendment language alongside any additional comments or changes.

The committee record shows the ordinance makes findings under the Planning Code (consistency with the General Plan and priority policies and findings of public necessity, convenience and welfare). Planning staff will prepare final drafting to reflect the committee's amendment and the commission's recommendations for the board record prior to the Oct. 6 hearing.