Council introduces automobile-use zoning text amendment and refers it to Planning and Zoning

The Westminster mayor and common council on June 9 introduced ordinance 2025-01, a zoning text amendment to define and place automobile-related uses across multiple zoning districts, and referred the draft to the Planning and Zoning Commission for recommendation.

Staff said the amendment responds to a request from a business at the Carroll County Commerce Center seeking to operate an automobile service shop in a planned industrial (PI) zone where that use is not currently listed. The proposed text amendments would add or clarify definitions for uses such as automobile detailing, major and minor repair and service shops, automobile sales, and replace the term “service station” with “automobile service station” across multiple zoning sections.

Mayor Mona Becker, Council President Greg Pecoraro and members of the Economic and Community Development Committee said the measure had been discussed in committee sessions several times and that the draft reflects committee and staff work. Council members noted the city’s broader zoning code needs updating but that text amendments can address discrete issues raised by businesses.

Councilmember Figueroa asked the Planning and Zoning Commission to consider whether certain automobile-related uses should be permitted in the downtown business zone, noting that once a use is established it is difficult to remove. The council did not amend the ordinance at introduction.

Councilman Dave Huff moved for introduction; Councilwoman Gilbert seconded. The council voted to introduce ordinance 2025-01 and refer it to the Planning and Zoning Commission for review and recommendation.