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Edgewater planning board approves variances for Sporty's Car Wash despite staff recommendation to deny
Summary
On June 18, 2025, the Edgewater Planning and Zoning Board approved variances (VA2504) allowing Sporty's Car Wash site design exceptions from Ridgewood Corridor design rules, voting to pass the motion after an applicant presentation and owner testimony; city staff had recommended denial citing corridor guidelines.
The Edgewater Planning and Zoning Board on June 18, 2025 approved a package of variances (VA2504) requested by Sporty's Car Wash, moving the application forward after an applicant presentation and public testimony. The motion to approve passed in an open roll-call vote recorded in the meeting transcript.
City staff had recommended denial. In a staff report, the development services director said the application conflicts with the Ridgewood Corridor design regulations (Article 20) and noted the applicant did not meet all six criteria under the land development code for granting variances. Staff cited particular concerns about drive-through window lane visibility from US 1, stacking-distance standards for full-service car washes, pass-through/bypass lane requirements, and prohibited facade treatments such as visible garage doors.
Joey Posey, attorney for the applicant, told the board the triangular lot shape and site constraints make the requested variances necessary to achieve an efficient layout that minimizes impervious surface and responds to neighbors. Posey argued modern automated car-wash designs differ from the drive-through stacking models the code contemplated when written and said some provisions (from a 2012 code update) do not clearly apply to automatic car-wash operations. He also said the latest architectural plans do not include garage doors, so that particular variance is not needed.
Sporty's owner Gordon Hardwick testified that his firm has built similar facilities and described operational features intended to prevent backups onto Ridgewood Avenue, including a blowout lane and on-site staffing. "I can give you my personal assurances that this is a well designed flow and won't impact the Ridgewood Corridor," Hardwick said.
Board members asked why the site could not connect to an ALDI stub-out and raised questions about landscape buffers and an easement affecting access; staff explained that the existing easement and buffer requirements, together with past stipulations, limit that connection absent additional approvals or variances. The applicant said shifting stacking lanes behind the building to meet a strict reading of the stacking requirement would increase impervious area and stormwater impacts.
A board member moved to approve VA2504 "as written"; the motion was seconded and carried by roll-call vote. The transcript shows affirmative roll-call responses for the members called, and no 'no' votes or abstentions are recorded. The board proceeded to the development services director's report after the vote.
What happens next: The board's approval was recorded at the meeting; the transcript does not specify additional appeal steps or permit-issuance timing. Any subsequent permit reviews, site-plan approvals, or compliance checks will follow the city's normal review process.
