County approves rezoning for agricultural tire-repair use near Antietam Battlefield

The Washington County Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a map amendment to apply the Rural Business (RB) floating zone to 1.68 acres of a 10.7-acre parcel at 6821 Sharpsburg Pike, allowing a tire-repair business to operate inside an existing pole building.

Planning staff told commissioners the building was originally permitted in 2020 as an agricultural‑support structure and the applicant now seeks to operate a business that will service farm equipment tires. "The RB floating zone is intended to support agricultural industry and rural services," Travis Allen, senior planner in the Department of Planning and Zoning, said during the public hearing.

The county’s staff report and outside reviewers highlighted compatibility concerns. The site lies within the Antietam Overlay‑2 (AO‑2) district and is within a quarter mile of the Antietam National Battlefield. The property is also encumbered by a Maryland Environmental Trust (MET) easement recorded in 1997 that restricts uses that would harm the scenic and historic character of the site. "The AO‑2 district was established to preserve the historic character of the road corridor approaching the battlefield," Allen said.

An attorney for the applicant, Noel Manalo, said the intended operation is low intensity and primarily serves local agricultural customers. "A tire repair business primarily servicing agricultural equipment would be consistent with the easement," Manalo said, citing a written reply the applicant previously received from MET. He added the applicant intends to keep tires and equipment out of public view and to confine repair work to the existing structure.

Commissioners questioned traffic safety at the site’s two driveways and whether signage and wayfinding could direct customers to the correct entrance. "That northern entrance is very dangerous; for safety's sake I would prefer the business be served by one entrance," Commissioner Randy Wagner said. The applicant, Myron Hurst, told the board the southern gate is kept closed and the northern entrance is the primary driveway.

Historic District Commission comments, summarized in the staff report, said the pole building was not reviewed by the HDC when it was permitted as an agricultural building and expressed concern that a new commercial use could change the approach to the battlefield. MET staff told county planners that, because the MET deed did not explicitly list later-built structures, MET would not technically prohibit commercial activity in an existing building; MET staff also said such commercial activity was not their preference.

After public testimony and commissioner discussion, a motion to approve the rezoning passed unanimously. The board asked the county attorney’s office to prepare formal findings of fact and a decision for the commission’s subsequent approval that will record any conditions and clarify enforcement steps.

The board’s approval applies only to the RB district and the site plan submitted with the application; any future changes in use or expansion beyond the approved area would require additional county review and likely another public hearing.

Details recorded by the county show one written public comment in support of the rezoning was received before the hearing; no written opposition was submitted to staff.

The applicant and county staff emphasized that zoning enforcement and site‑plan review will be the mechanisms to address any future complaints about exterior storage, signage, traffic impacts, or expansion of operations.