Commission advances first reading to rezone Wilmington/Patterson site for Flying Ace car wash over nearby residents’ objections

At a Dayton City Commission meeting, commissioners voted to advance a first reading of an ordinance that would amend the official zoning map to establish a plan development and final plan for 1.559 acres at the northeast corner of Wilmington Avenue and Patterson Road, the site of a former Rite Aid slated for a Flying Ace automated car wash.

Planning staff told commissioners the applicant revised the site plan after a prior remand to city plan board, moving vehicle exits to the south and proposing a masonry wall and landscaping to reduce noise toward nearby residences. "We moved it essentially almost 180 degrees," an applicant representative said in describing changes meant to keep blowers and other noise away from Colwick Drive and adjacent homes.

Neighbors who live closest to the site urged denial. "I'm opposed to the car wash along with many of my neighbors who are here today," said Eileen Comerford of 952 Croydon Drive, citing concerns that the change to E&C zoning would favor automobiles over pedestrian-oriented neighborhood uses. Other nearby residents warned of traffic backups on narrow side streets and a possible decline in quality of life for homes immediately adjacent to the lot.

Supporters, including Patterson Park Civic Association President Steve Dilhoff, pressed the commission to consider vacancy and blight: ‘‘We have a business willing to invest significantly into this property, almost $4,000,000 creating construction and landscape jobs, ongoing employment, and generating tax revenue,’’ he said, urging the city to balance community impacts against activating a long-vacant building.

Commissioners questioned staff and the applicant about specific mitigations: vacuum placement, the prospect of enclosing the equipment that produces noise, stacking capacity so cars would not queue into public right-of-way, and whether the planning board’s denial could be overturned under the zoning standards the board applies. Applicant representatives said site stacking and reconfiguration would keep vehicles on-site and offered to enclose the main noise-producing equipment in masonry.

After deliberation, the commission took a procedural vote to move the item forward to first reading. The roll-call on the motion recorded: Mayor Mims — Yes; Commissioner Joseph — No; Commissioner Shaw — Yes; Commissioner Fairchild — Yes. Staff and the city’s planning attorney explained that final ordinance adoption would require a later vote and that overturning the plan-board recommendation ultimately requires the commission to find the rezoning standards are met.

Next steps: the ordinance proceeds as a first reading; the commission will hold the second reading and final vote at a later meeting, when staff said four affirmative votes would be required to adopt the ordinance given the plan board’s prior recommendation of denial.