Car‑wash noise ordinance amendment draws heated public input; council continues hearing to January

City staff presented a proposed amendment to Chapter 58, Article 1 (noise ordinance) that would prohibit operation of staffed and unstaffed commercial car washes within 100 feet of residentially zoned property between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. The change was developed in response to long‑running noise complaints from residents near Bristow Station.

Owner concerns: Jay Serene, who owns a self‑serve automatic car wash, testified he cannot comply with a hard shutdown requirement because the equipment and layout are automated and not configured to stop and restart on a fixed schedule; he said staffing the site would render the business financially nonviable for a low‑price, self‑serve model. Serene said he has worked with police on complaints and has voluntarily disabled some automated bays.

Residents' concerns and police measurements: Several nearby residents and a police lieutenant described persistent noise, measured interior/exterior levels and a prior incident in which wiring damage left doors open and amplified noise; neighbors said measured levels in adjacent houses reached 60–65 dB and urged the council to adopt the ordinance or otherwise require mitigation (gates, fencing, noise mitigation measures).

Action taken: After public comment and discussion, council voted to close the public hearing and continue deliberation at the January 12, 2026 council meeting to give staff time to refine options and to allow further engagement between residents, police and business owners.