Homestead Considers New Rules for Car Washes and Animal Clinics

The Homestead City Council is considering separate zoning changes addressing express mechanical car washes and small-animal clinics.

One proposed ordinance would formally define express mechanical car washes and allow them within the city’s B-2 Retail Commercial zoning district.

Homestead’s current land-development regulations do not include specific provisions for express mechanical car-wash facilities.

Washing and polishing vehicles are currently allowed as secondary uses at service stations within retail commercial districts.

Car washes and similar automotive businesses have historically been approved under an interpretation that classifies them as miscellaneous service establishments. Those businesses are first permitted in the B-1 Commercial District and are also allowed within B-2 districts.

The proposed ordinance would formally recognize express mechanical car washes as permitted B-2 uses while establishing standards for their development and operation.

Those requirements would address architectural design, landscaping, screening, traffic circulation, noise and site layout.

According to city information, establishing clearer development standards would help ensure that future facilities are compatible with surrounding businesses and commercial corridors.

While the car-wash ordinance focuses on automotive businesses, a second proposal would amend the zoning code to provide additional locations for small-animal clinics and hospitals.

The proposed changes would add small-animal hospitals that do not provide boarding as recognized uses under the city code.

Those businesses would be limited to standalone buildings on properties measuring at least 13,500 square feet.

The current zoning code addresses dog and pet hospitals without boarding and animal hospitals with boarding within the B-2 Retail Commercial District. However, comparable small-animal clinics are not clearly identified as permitted uses or special exceptions within the city’s other zoning districts.

According to city information, adding the proposed categories would provide more possible locations for veterinary services while establishing requirements for their operation.

Both ordinances remain under consideration by the Council.