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Detroit Lakes planning commission approves Weber Family Ford car-wash conditional-use permit
Summary
The Detroit Lakes Planning Commission approved a conditional-use permit for a customer-facing car wash at Weber Family Ford, following staff recommendation that included 14 conditions; the item will advance to the development committee and city council for final review.
The Detroit Lakes Planning Commission approved a conditional-use permit allowing Weber Family Ford to build a customer-facing car wash adjacent to its existing QuickLane services.
Staff recommended approval of the permit subject to 14 conditions, and the commission voted to follow the city’s findings and staff recommendation. A commissioner moved to approve the permit and the motion carried by voice vote.
The request, as described by Larry, the community development director, would place the car wash on properties listed in the notice (addresses read at the hearing). Larry told the commission that the city’s zoning code currently treats car washes in the B-3 district as conditional uses and that staff believes the proposal meets the listed conditions.
A Weber Family Ford representative described the proposed operation as an expansion of the dealership’s QuickLane services (oil changes, tires and brakes) and said the car wash would be customer-facing with a kiosk accepting credit-card payments. “We’re gonna make this customer facing,” the representative said, noting the wash will serve dealership customers and include a kiosk for drive-up transactions.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about site layout, screening and whether the wash would be open to the public. Staff noted the city has a screening ordinance that governs transitions where commercial zones abut residential areas.
The commission was also asked to consider whether car washes should remain conditional uses in B-3 zones or be permitted outright; staff suggested the commission could place an ordinance amendment on a future agenda to consider that change.
The commission was told the item will next be heard by the development committee on the 8th at 5:00 p.m. and by city council on the 9th at 5:00 p.m., both in the same chamber.
The commission approved the permit during the regular meeting with no public comment on the item.
