Dash-In & Splash-In

Originally Published: June 4, 2024

Leonardtown Development Updates

Dash-In/Exxon in Leonardtown, at the corner of Newtowne Neck Road and Route 5, has begun to demolish the current site and construct a new gas station. Approved by Leonardtown’s Planning & Zoning Commission in July 2023, the new layout will “relocate the building to the southwestern portion of the property with…gas pumps directly in front of the building” according to planning documents. Twenty parking spaces and 12 gas pumps will fill out the rest of the site, an overall better use of the property. The convenience store will be larger and offer more food options.

Elsewhere, the building that once housed Perkins, Happy Seafood House, and everything in between, will be leveled. A 3900 SF Splash-In Car Wash will take its place. The current access from Merchants Lane will stay, but the redeveloped site will have 20 vacuum spaces, 6 customer parking spaces, and one for staff. Overall, the site will have 18% more green space. Patrons will need to go through the car wash in order to access the vacuum area. Concept approval was granted in February 2024, and the Town’s Planning & Zoning Board gave final approval for site development in May.

Construction may begin anytime, but the car wash won’t be issued a use & occupancy permit until additional Equivalent Dwelling Units (EDUs) are available. EDUs are the usage measurement for water/sewer services provided by a utility. The property currently has 6 EDUs, but requires 6 more to operate as a car wash. The town’s wastewater treatment plant is “under construction to expand the facility” with estimated completion this fall according to planning documents. Property owner NIVEA-NAGGENA, Inc may plan construction to complete around the same time, then seek additional EDUs from the Town Government.