Realizing Colmar Manor officials did not want a 24-hour car wash in the town, Harrington submitted a bill to the County Council that would make it difficult for such business to start up.

The bill, passed by the council on Nov. 30, requires applicants interested in establishing a 24-hour car wash to file a request for a special exception from the Colmar Manor Town Council.

"The bill makes for a much more detailed public process for a car wash to be approved with intense public scrutiny," Harrington said.

"I was obviously supporting the interests of Colmar Manor but it also makes sense when you have an area that's trying to revitalize itself not to have a business that's inconsistent with the visions of the community."

During the October town business breakfast, a business owner revealed a proposal for a 24-hour car wash next to the Taco Bell and KFC at 4021 Bladensburg Road.

"We listen to all the proposals and I took this one back to the council," said Colmar Manor Mayor Diana Fennell. "One of the council's concerns was that we're trying to reduce the traffic along Bladensburg Road."

Traffic along Colmar Manor's main thoroughfare is already usually tied up, with the CSX railroad creating delays, compounded by congestion from construction on the Anacostia River bridge.

"With traffic so congested, we didn't know how it was going to be if we added another car wash as well," Fennell said.

The town already has a car wash, Spissy Car Wash at 4209 Bladensburg Road, which is not a 24-hour facility. Safety was another concern.

"You have people who could rear end to each other ... and there was also the thought of rescue and fire apparatuses not being able to get to a certain location." she said.

Fennell said as the town is a small cul de sac community, the council was also concerned as to what kind of elements a 24-hour business would attract to Colmar Manor.

"I'm glad that Councilman Harrington took the lead in getting this done and it shows that he's really representing us well," Fennell said. "We're glad to see that we have