Planning commission continues hearing on Yucaipa's proposed car-wash ordinance after recusal, lack of quorum

The City of Yucaipa Planning Commission on April 15 opened a public hearing on Ordinance No. 479, a City Council-initiated proposal to add car-wash facility standards to the development code and to impose a 1,500-foot buffer limiting where new car washes may be sited. Planning staff told commissioners the city currently has 10 operating car washes and two under construction and that Council directed staff to pursue a buffer-based approach.

Planning staff said Ordinance 479 would add design and operational standards for car-wash facilities in commercial and industrial zones and would apply a 1,500-foot separation that staff and Council believe would substantially limit future new sites. "We overlaid 500-, 1,000- and 1,500-foot distances and Council selected the 1,500-foot option as the direction they…