The Mathews County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors will hold a joint public hearing at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the historic courthouse to hear a request for a text amendment to the definition of a car wash. After the public hearing, the board will adjourn and the commission will hold its regular monthly meeting.

According to a staff report, Billy Cook of Mathews has requested that the definition of a car wash be changed. Planner Chris Ingram said Cook has submitted a site plan to the planning and zoning department for a car wash at Hyco Corner, which is a by-right use of the property, but he would prefer to have the definition changed before proceeding.

The suggested changes would delete language requiring that an employee be on-site during all hours of operation and that the hours of operation be limited to 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays in the county’s B-2 business district.

Ingram said in the report that Gloucester and Middlesex counties permit car washes by right without such restrictions in all business and commercial districts. She said that time limitations and on-site employee requirements may not be necessary in the B-2 district. If stricter controls are needed, she added, the county could require a Conditional Use Permit for car washes in certain districts.

For more information, call the planning and zoning department at 725-4034.

To view this article in its entirety, subscribe here. Already an online subscriber? Login Here