Manassas Park approves conditional use permit for MAX Custom Exhaust despite noise questions

The Governing Body of Manassas Park on July 21 approved a conditional use permit (CUP 2026-02) allowing MAX Custom Exhaust to continue operating at 9115 Digital Drive, Suites 2 and 15, subject to development conditions staff recommended.

Assistant planner Avariaza presented the application and site details, saying the business focuses on exhaust-system repair, modification and replacement and occupies roughly 5,600 square feet on a three-acre site. She told the council the applicant has been operating at the location for about four years and that staffs recommended conditions include specified hours of operation, storage of generated waste in ABS containers, prohibitions on on-site catalytic-converter processing, compliance with the city noise ordinance, and a limit on overnight parking of more than 48 hours.

"I'm here to present conditional use permit 2026Dash02 for MAX custom exhaust," Avariaza said, and she described buffers on the property and interior photos staff used to assess operational impacts.

Council members questioned whether typical shop activitiessuch as impact wrenches, angle grinders and running enginescould exceed city noise limits. Staff responded that decibel measurements are taken at the property line, that the city had received no noise complaints about the shop, and that a formal noise survey would be required to verify compliance. Staff also noted police have decibel meters and that coordination would be needed to measure on-site sound levels.

The applicant noted operations take place inside a building, which will reduce exterior noise. "It's in a building. It's not out in the parking lot, so the building will damper most of the sound," the applicant said.

Despite the noise questions, multiple council members expressed support for the permit given the mitigation conditions staff recommended. The council approved the CUP; two members recorded opposition during the tally.

The approved conditions require compliance with the Manassas Park noise ordinance, storage of waste in approved ABS containers, restrictions on catalytic-converter handling, specific hours of operation and limits on overnight parking, and they tie the permit to the property's period of legal occupancy. Staff will monitor compliance and coordinate enforcement if neighbors report violations.

The governing body moved on to other business after the vote; no public speakers addressed the hearing in person.