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Council tables appeal of denied Splash Laundry expansion at 6591 East Main Street
Summary
Reynoldsburg City Council on May 11 tabled an appeal of a Planning & Zoning Board denial to expand an existing laundromat at 6591 East Main Street, keeping the quasi‑judicial hearing open for further testimony and returning the matter to the next meeting.
Council President Bowen Packer presided as the city reviewed an appeal of a March 5 Planning and Zoning Board decision that denied a building/site modification to expand Splash Laundry into the adjacent unit at 6591 East Main Street.
City planning staff summarized the application history and code rationale, telling the council that the expansion was denied because "legal nonconforming land uses cannot be expanded," citing the zoning code provision staff applied in their determination. The staff presentation traced the file back to a December 2025 sign and zoning application and noted that the proposed expanded laundromat would incorporate a unit that was previously a martial‑arts studio and therefore is not part of an existing legal nonconforming laundromat unit.
Rick Murphy, who identified himself as owner and president of Precise Remaline Contracting and as facilities manager for the property owner, and Daniel Duckworth, the owner/operator of Splash Laundry, spoke in support of the expansion. Duckworth told the council the business has operated on the site since 1973 under prior ownership, said he invested in the store after taking the lease in 2019, and told council "this expansion is actually a $400,000 expansion" intended to add dryers and a drop‑off/fold area to reduce customer wait times. Murphy and Duckworth emphasized the business's long presence and the owner's recent investment and petition support from customers.
Council members debated the narrow legal question before them: whether the planning and zoning administrator correctly interpreted and applied the zoning code in denying an expansion of a nonconforming use, or whether the council should override that interpretation. Several members said they sympathized with the business's longevity but expressed concern that granting the appeal could set a precedent that would undermine the comprehensive master plan and zoning code adopted in 2020–2021.
After discussion, a motion to table the appeal and keep the hearing open until the next council meeting passed; the council agreed to continue receiving testimony at the subsequent meeting rather than closing the hearing. The motion was moved, seconded and carried by voice vote.
Next steps: the council will keep the hearing open to accept additional testimony and will revisit the appeal at the next regular meeting. No final determination on the appeal was made at the May 11 session.
