Commission approves automated car wash and variance at 525 West Pembroke Road

The Hallandale Beach City Commission on Aug. 20 approved a conditional-use permit and a variance allowing an automated, self-service car wash at 525 West Pembroke Road, with unanimous support (5-0).

Attorney Rachel Stripefels represented the applicant and told commissioners the use is an automated self-service car wash (no gas station, hand-wash, tire sales or vending). She said circulation and stacking were reviewed by city staff and the city's traffic reviewer, and that all ingress and egress would be from Sixth Avenue (no curb cut onto Pembroke Road). The applicant proposed hours of operation from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., additional landscaping, street trees, new sidewalks and an 8-foot perimeter wall to buffer adjacent duplex residential districts. The applicant also volunteered quarterly complimentary car washes for first responders, and said the facility would be solar powered with an on-site water reuse system.

Commissioners asked about staffing and circulation. Stripefels said the operation would have two employees on site and about five permanent staff positions overall; membership customers would be processed via license-plate recognition so there would be minimal cash transactions and reduced loitering.

After no public speakers, the commission voted to approve the conditional-use application and the variance (both motions recorded as 5-0). City staff noted that planning and zoning had given unanimous approval at their hearing and that one nearby resident had lodged noise and light objections that the applicant had addressed in discussions.

Why it matters: The approval allows a solar-powered, low-footprint automated car wash in the Pembroke Road subdistrict with conditions intended to limit noise, light and circulation impacts on adjacent residences. The commission emphasized landscaping, hours and buffering as mitigation.

Ending: The applicant will proceed to permitting under the conditions the commission adopted.