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Board of Adjustment allows three vacuum bays at Cobblestone Car Wash after noise study
Summary
The Board of Adjustment approved a variance allowing three additional vacuum stanchions to encroach into the rear setback at Cobblestone Car Wash (VAR2024‑003). Staff said a noise study found predicted levels under residential limits; a nearby resident reiterated noise concerns during public comment.
The Board of Adjustment approved a variance at its Aug. 28 hearing that permits Cobblestone Car Wash to add three vacuum stanchions on the northwest corner of its property, encroaching into the rear setback adjacent to a residential zone.
Senior planner Lisa Romelt led the staff presentation and described the request as an accessory‑use setback variance to allow vacuum bays to encroach to a minimum setback of 27.8 feet from the rear property line where a 60‑foot setback is required because of the adjacent residential zoning. Romelt said the variance was requested to reduce site congestion tied to a shared driveway with a neighboring 7‑Eleven and that the applicant provided a noise study responding to Douglas County's earlier recommendation for additional analysis or a masonry wall.
"The noise study did show that the permissible volumes are not being exceeded with the vacuums," Romelt said, noting predicted sound levels from the stanchions would remain within the city's residential daytime standard. Applicant engineers and Cobblestone representatives said the change extends the site's overhead vacuum piping to create more vacuum stalls rather than installing separate vacuum machines and that the intent is to reduce queues that had been interfering with circulation to the adjacent business.
A nearby resident, Michael Miller of 7701 Beverly Boulevard, spoke during public comment and said noise from the car wash remains his primary concern. Miller asked how neighbors would report excessive noise after installation; staff said code enforcement would respond to complaints and investigate whether noise exceeded municipal limits.
Board members raised questions about how often queues currently back up into the shared driveway, employee parking relocation, signage and curb adjustments to encourage routing through the car wash site, and whether additional physical screening would be required. Staff recommended approval with conditions including showing and dimensioning setbacks at each vacuum stanchion on the site plan and filing a minor SIP modification to document the change. The motion to approve, with those conditions, passed on a roll‑call vote.
