The Mathews Board of Supervisors failed to grant approval Tuesday night for an amendment of the county’s zoning ordinance that would have allowed for a proposed car wash at Mathews Court House to operate 24 hours a day without supervision.

Instead, the board voted 3-2 to send the measure back to the planning commission for further amendment.

The amendment was requested by Billy Cook of Mathews, who plans to place a car wash with one touchless automatic bay and three self-service bays at the site of a former auto repair business at Hyco Corner.

The planning commission last week recommended that the supervisors approve the amendment, which deleted language from the zoning ordinance requiring that a car wash—a by-right use in the B-2 (business) district—limit its hours and have an operator on duty at all times.

However, resident Judy Castleman raised concerns about the environmental implications of such a business, during the planning commission meeting, especially regarding run-off into Put-In Creek, and supervisors Neena Putt and Janine Burns echoed those concerns at Tuesday night’s meeting.

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