MEMORANDUM
TO: City Council
FROM: David J. Deutsch, City Manager
SUBJECT: Status Report/Council Poll
DATE: October 25, 2007
Status Report
1. Car Wash Special Exception
On Tuesday, October 23rd, the Bowie Advisory Planning Board (BAPB) held a
public hearing on Special Exception (SE) #4565 for a proposed detail car
wash in a vacant space located at 3329 Superior Lane, where a car wash
previously existed more than 15 years ago. The City Council public hearing
is scheduled for November 19, 2007, the first regular meeting after the
election.
Ms. Vernell Arrington, representing the applicant, stated that the applicant had agreed with all of the recommendations made in the staff report. She submitted (Exhibit A) an elevation of the signage for the car wash, noting that the applicant had changed the name to Bowie Car Wash. Mr. Richard A. Mlyner of Cabin Branch Joint Venture, LLC, representing the adjacent Bowie Professional Building, spoke in opposition to the project. Mr. Mlyner submitted (Exhibit B) a 13-page letter dated October 19, 2007, addressed to Cynthia Fenton of M-NCPPC and written by John Barr of Coover & Barr, LLC. He summarized the letter stating that the proposed parking does not conform to the Zoning Ordinance. He also noted that the existing lawn mower repair shop and rental facility located on the property requires a special exception and does not have one. He questioned whether the detail car wash should be exempt from a queuing analysis. (The staff report and Ms. Arrington had both stated that the business would be operated by appointment only and that there would be no queuing of cars as a result.) The Board discussed whether or not patrons would be aware of the fact that the car wash was “by appointment only” since the proposed signage did not currently reflect this. They noted that queuing could be a problem if patrons mistakenly lined-up for car wash service before making an appointment. They also discussed the proposed location of signage for the car wash and whether there was room at the front of the building along Superior Lane for car wash signage.
The BAPB unanimously voted to approve the detail car wash with the five (5) conditions recommended in the staff report plus two (2) more conditions. The first BAPB condition addresses the need for temporary parking while patrons make appointments to avoid cars lining up. The second BAPB condition addresses a need for clarity in the signage, so future patrons are apprised that the business will not be operated as an automatic car wash.
2. Mansionization Proposed Legislation
On October 23rd, consultants working with Chairman Parker’s office
of the Prince George’s County Planning Commission, distributed proposed
legislation resulting from the Chairman’s Mansionization Study.
Beginning in August 2007, the consultants held three (3) public meetings over a three (3) month period to discuss mansionization and possible legislation that could be adopted to curb mansionization in Prince George’s County. Mansionization refers to the construction of oversized homes on small lots, particularly in older, established neighborhoods where there are smaller, existing homes on small lots. In some cases, these homes are torn down and replaced with brand new homes that are much larger and out of character with the neighborhood. Sometimes additions and renovations are made to an existing home such that the remodeled home dwarfs the neighboring homes.
Staff is reviewing the proposed legislation and will provide comments and a position letter in next week’s Council package. A mansionization website has been established to keep citizens informed (see http://www.mncppc.org/pgco/planning/).