The Land Use and Transportation Committee considered an ordinance to modify the Geary Boulevard Neighborhood Commercial District (NCD) to allow outdoor hand car washing, vacuuming and detailing as an accessory use at automotive service stations.

Sponsor Supervisor Connie Chan explained the ordinance would eliminate a current condition requiring operators who hand-wash cars at a gas station along Geary Boulevard to build a separate structure on site. The proposed change aims to allow neighborhood-serving car-wash services to remain accessible to local residents in the Richmond.

Planning Department staff reported the Planning Commission considered the matter and recommended a modification that would expand the allowance to automotive service stations citywide and to remove a limitation tying authorization to uses in existence on the ordinance's effective date.

Supervisor Chan proposed an amendment to clarify the ordinance applies to current and future gas stations in the Geary NCD; the committee adopted the amendment. Because the amendments were substantive, the chair moved to continue the ordinance to the committee's next meeting on Oct. 6, 2025 to allow the ordinance text to circulate for one week. The clerk recorded three ayes and the motion to continue passed.

No public commenters registered for the item at the committee meeting. The continuance means the ordinance will return to committee on Oct. 6 with the proposed amendments in place for further action.