Label
Title
Declaring a Moratorium until January 31, 2025, on the review and issuance of any zoning permits, building permits, certificates of occupancy, or other licenses or permits for Car washes, in the City of Toledo; and declaring an emergency.
Summary
SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND:
Toledo City Council is initiating a study by the Toledo City Plan Commission to research the history and future of the establishment of car washes in the City of Toledo, to examine the secondary effects that they have on city residents and city neighborhoods, and evaluate the best practices for their regulation from other cities.
The study will look into the impact of the proliferation of car washes, on the public health and safety of surrounding neighborhoods. This includes any environmental concerns as well as re-use concerns for the property. The study will address whether there should be a basis for spacing or for additional design standards.
Additionally, it was determined that car washes may pose an issue with site development, site maintenance, and nuisance concerns. Older car wash locations have often become code enforcement problems in the City of Toledo.
The City’s Plan Commission is requested to study a possible text amendment to better regulate Car washes in Toledo. The amendment could require a Special Use Permit to open Car washes which would allow for review and revocation if conditions of approval are not met. A moratorium on the issuance of zoning permits, building permits, certificates or occupancy, or other licenses or permits for Car washes in the City of Toledo is necessary to allow time for Council to review the Plan Commission report and hold appropriate hearings regarding the proposed changes to the zoning code
NOW, THEREFORE, Be it ordained by the Council of the City of Toledo:
SECTION 1. For the reasons stated in the Summary & Background, this Council establishes a moratorium on the review and issuance of zoning permits, building permits, certificates of occupancy, and other licenses or permits for car washes as defined in the Summary and Background, in the City of Toledo on applications filed after the effective date of this moratorium. This moratorium shall be in effect until January 31, 2025, or such time as the City has established regulations regarding the review and issuance of same for car washes, whichever is earlier.
SECTION 2. It is found and determined that all formal actions of this Council concerning and relating to the passage of this Ordinance were passed in an open meeting of this Council, and that all deliberations of this Council and any of its committees that resulted in such formal action, were in meetings open to the public, in compliance with all legal requirements including Section 121.22 of the Ohio Revised Code.
SECTION 3. That this Ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall be in force and effect from and after its passage. The reason for the emergency lies in the fact that the same is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety and property, and for the further reason being that a moratorium is necessary to allow additional time to study the report and recommendations of the Plan Commission and the public health and safety impact of Car washes in the City of Toledo.
Vote on emergency clause: yeas 11, nays 0.
Adopted: July 17, 2024, as an emergency measure: yeas 11, nays 0.
Attest:
Julie A. Gibbons Carrie Hartman
Clerk of Council President of Council
Approved: July 17, 2024
Wade Kapszukiewicz
Mayor