THE MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNING COMMISSION
PERMIT REVIEW SECTION
14741 Governor Oden Bowie Drive, Upper Marlboro Md. 20772
Permit Reviewer: Mary Hampton 10396-2015-U
Telephone Number: 301-952-5411 March 31, 2015
Fax Number: 301-952-4141
Permit Status: www.mncppc.org
The following comments were generated from permit review. Any questions or concerns regarding the following should be directed to the reviewer at the phone number provided above.
1. This permit is for car wash located in Southern Green Line Station Area Development District Overlay Zone (DDOZ). The underlying zone is M-U-TC. A car wash is a prohibited use in this zone. However this car wash was certified as a nonconforming use by the Planning Board pursuant to CNU-18816-2003, and the permit was subsequently issued on June 6, 2005. On February 12, 2010, permit 2639-2010-U was placed on hold for a change in ownership of the car wash. The new was required to submit documentation of continuous operation of the car wash as required by Section 27-2410c) of the Zoning Ordinance. The owner was not able to provide this documentation. Past due accounts from WSSC, discontinuance notice from Washington Gas, Pepco statements which indicate “0” kilowatts used from November 2007 to October 2009, a letter dated July 2009 indicating the car wash equipment had been removed from the building were submitted. The owner was given the option of submitting a written request that the use be re-established in accordance with Section 27-241©(2) of the Zoning Ordinance if the conditions of nonoperation were beyond the control of the person who was in control of the property during the period of nonoperation. The owner was also given the option of filing a new certification of nonconforming use. The owner did not pursue either process or the permit. The owner applied for 3 additional permits to change the use of the property. Permit 25113-2011-U was placed on hold for a nail salon, 25113-2011-CU/01 was placed on hold for a convenience store, and permit 24964-2011-CG was placed on hold for a nail salon. The proposed conversion with exterior renovations was required review by the Suitland Mixed-Use Town Center Design Review Committee. These permits were not pursued. Therefore per Section 27-241© of the Zoning Ordinance the applicant must submit documentation that demonstrates that the car wash has been in continuous operation and has not ceased operation for more than 180 consecutive calendar days from June 2005 through the present date. If the use has ceased to operate, then the applicant must submit clear and precise documentation of continuous operation up to the date the use ceased to operate. Then a letter must be submitted from the person who was in control of the property during the time of nonoperation requesting that the use be reestablished, provide specific information as to when the car wash ceased to operate and why, and provide evidence (as an attachment) that the conditions of nonoperation were beyond their control. This information will then be forwarded to the Planning Director, Fern Piret, for a determination. If the Planning Director finds that the facts are conclusive, then the permit application will be approved. If the Planning Director finds that the facts are not entirely conclusive, the request will be referred to the Zoning Section for a Planning Board hearing. The letter should be addressed to:
Fern Piret, Planning Director
Prince George’s County Planning Department Planning Department
14741 Governor Oden Bowie Drive
Upper Marlboro, Md. 20772
All of the above should be submitted to me.
The property owner may also have the option of a request that the District Council amend the list of allowed uses in accordance with Section 27-548.26 of the Zoning Ordinance. The applicant must Cheryl Summerlin at 301-952-3578 for information regarding this process.
I emailed the comments to Stanley Gaskins at
4/1/15 – Mr. Gaskins called and we discussed the comments.