Commission denies appeal of business‑license denial for CSRA Motorsports at 3413 Washington Road

The Planning Commission denied an appeal of the county’s denial of a business license for CSRA Motorsports, which sought to reestablish vehicle sales at 3413 Washington Road. County staff said vehicle sales are a limited use in the applicable C‑2 zoning and require a 1.5‑acre minimum; the property is roughly 0.67 acres and had lost its nonconforming vehicle‑sales status because no vehicle sales business operated there for more than 12 months.

Staff told commissioners the site had vehicle sales uses in the past (CSRA Motorsports from 2011–2021, then Queens Auto Sales from 2021–2023). Queens Auto Sales closed Feb. 1, 2023; because more than 12 months elapsed before the applicant submitted a properly approved state license for the site, staff said the use could not be reestablished under the prior nonconforming status and the county denied the business‑license application.

Applicant Manny Aber told the commission he had applied for an address change on the state license in mid‑2023 but that a transition to a new state online system delayed processing; Aber said his corrected state license was not in active status until Feb. 14 and that a clerical error on the license listed the wrong address until he obtained an in‑person correction two days before the hearing. He said the intent to reestablish the business existed and blamed state processing delays for the lapse.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about dates and processing; after discussion, a motion to deny the appeal carried by voice vote. The commission’s denial will be forwarded to the Board of Commissioners for final consideration as required by process.