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Planning Commission recommends rezoning for Firestone auto repair at Rutherford Crossing with proffers
Summary
The Frederick County Planning Commission unanimously recommended rezoning 2.96 acres in Rutherford Crossing from B-2 to B-3 with proffers to permit a Bridgestone/Firestone automotive repair center; commissioners required operating hours, bay-door orientation and enclosed tire storage as conditions to forward to the Board of Supervisors (Sept. 24).
The Frederick County Planning Commission on Sept. 3 voted to recommend rezoning a 2.96-acre pad in Rutherford Crossing from B-2 General Business to B-3 Industrial Transition to allow a Bridgestone/Firestone automotive repair center.
Staff told the commission the property fronts Market Street and Martinsburg Pike and that proffers filed July 28 permit the intended automotive repair use while prohibiting other B-3 uses. Staff said VDOT concluded the rezoning would not negatively affect the transportation network and that the proposal includes a five-foot sidewalk along the property's northeast boundary.
Todd Hamill, the developer, said the operation would be sized to the shopping-center context and described planned hours of operation: "So it's 7 to 7 Monday through Saturday and 9 to 5 on Sunday." He told commissioners deliveries would come during the day and that the shop would perform tires, brakes and oil changes but not heavy engine or body work.
Commissioners expressed concerns about noise, bay-door orientation toward a nearby hotel and outdoor tire storage. Several commissioners asked the applicant to include operating hours and bay-door orientation in proffers; the applicant agreed and offered that tires would be stored in a masonry enclosure that matches the building. A nearby resident, Leslie Spencer of Gainsborough, asked for additional evergreen screening along the hotel frontage.
Commissioner DeHaven moved to recommend approval with amended proffers to restrict hours to 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Monday–Saturday and 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday, require bay doors not face the adjacent hotel property, and require that tires be stored inside or in an enclosed structure. The motion was seconded and carried by roll-call voice vote; the commission's recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors, which is scheduled to hear the item Sept. 24.
The commission's recommendation is advisory; any final change to zoning or proffers will be decided by the Board of Supervisors.
Votes at the planning commission: the motion to recommend approval carried with all commissioners present recording affirmative votes.
Next steps: The Board of Supervisors will consider the rezoning on Sept. 24.
