The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Zoning board approves car wash
A new car wash planned for the west side has the goahead from the Lorain Zoning Board of Appeals.
On Sept. 2, the board approved a conditional use permit to build a new Buckeye Express Car Wash at 2101 Silver Maple Way.
The new facility would sit on the east side of Leavitt Road, south of the intersection with Tower Boulevard.
A month before, the Zoning Board of Appeals held in abeyance the request due to traffic concerns and potential for crashes at the intersection.
On Aug. 5, Lorain Ward 4 Councilman Greg Argenti said he had concerns about cars leaving the car wash and crossing Tower Boulevard to turn left and get back to Leavitt Road.
Argenti recommended making the Tower Boulevard exit a right turn only.
Zoning Board member Henry Patterson on Sept. 2 repeated the concerns about safety as drivers exit the car wash and try to get back to Leavitt Road, which also is Ohio Route 58.
Adding a car wash to the retail corridor would add to the traffic, but not so much that it would create a dangerous situation, said two city analysts.
The city will require signs to be “crystal clear” to notify drivers about the safe directions of travel, said City Engineer Dale Vandersommen.
At Silver Maple Way, there was not enough traffic volume to require adding a new stoplight there, Vandersommen said.
Lorain police Traffic Commissioner Kyle Gelenius said officers will monitor the area, but had no objection to the plan.
Gelenius agreed even with events at the sports complex on Silver Maple Way, the crash data from drivers turning left onto Leavitt Road did not warrant adding a new stoplight.
On Sept. 2, Trent Walter represented architect Brad Maurer before the Zoning Board.
Walter did not comment on the zoning application.
The earlier meeting included a description of the new facility.
The facility would open seven days a week, but is not a 24-hour car wash, said Eric Bilton of Mansfield, who represented Buckeye Express Car Wash.
The company currently has five similar facilities around northern Ohio, with two others built in a different style.
The new store would have up to a dozen workers earning $14 to $16 an hour, Bilton said.
The car wash uses brushes to scrub cars so its soaps are environmentally friendly, not harsh chemicals or abrasives, he said.
Buckeye Express offers subscription plans for washing and free vacuum cleaners for customers.
The building would have a stone veneer masonry structure, Bilton said.
It would have three entrance lanes that could hold up to 30 cars, he said.