Rainforest Car Wash gets final site plan approval

Architectural elements still work in progress

The plan is still rolling for a new Mentor car wash that can handle 120 vehicles an hour.

However, the outward appearance of the building remains a sticking point for the Mentor Planning Commission in some respects.

The commission on March 26 granted final site plan approval for a Rainforest Car Wash at 7350 Palisades Parkway, but requested more modifications to the facade.

A conditional-use permit and preliminary site plan for the 180-foot tunnel wash, proposed behind McDonald’s on Route 306, was approved in January on the condition that the owner remove a faux rock exterior from the exit.

Commission member Geoffrey Varga was most vocal against that element — used at the business’s other locations — and he continued to speak up on the latest rendition.

This time, he requested more elements along the length of the building that would face Palisades.

“My concern is with this 150-foot wall of nothing facing the primary street,” he said. “I know there was a comment made by the city to try and break that up and do something with it. I’m going to highly recommend that you come up with some presentation that keeps that from looking like a warehouse facing the street.”

Project representative Matt Gile noted that there were plans to add faux windows and some type of architectural design in the block.

Varga noted the city’s penchant for brick.

The exit was modified, but the administration expressed concern about the height compared with the rest of the building.

The existing building — a former racquetball court and office — will be demolished and replaced with a 5,673-square-foot structure that is about 19 feet high with a 45-foot accent wall.

“The overall height does meet our height requirements in that particular zone, but it was, in the administration’s position, a little bit disproportionate to each other,” Planning Director Kathy Mitchell said. Varga was supportive of the variation.

“My opinion is I understand they’re doing something that’s kind of theatrical, kind of Disney-like, so I don’t have a problem with it,” he said. “But I do have a problem with the rest of it.”

The commission eliminated a condition going from three lanes to two after Gile noted that the third lane provided for monthly membership perks.

“It allows you to pull around so you can get through quicker and faster,” he said. “It’s a traditional setup in most washes that can do this type of volume. This allows us to put the maximum number of cars through per hour.”

He noted that it also would help prevent overstacking of cars onto Palisades.

The administration was satisfied when it learned that the third lane also could serve as a bypass lane, if needed.

Acting commission Chairman Brian Cook noted issues with motorists spilling out into the road at some car washes in the city during busy times.

“Do you have a procedure in place if that starts to happen so you close down temporarily?” he asked.

Gile said it won’t be an issue.

“We can wash 120 cars per hour. Some of the other ones where they have one car in a bay at a time and the wash goes around, they can only do 12 to 15 in an hour. Even our busiest time of year, which is 10 to 12 days a year, we’ve never stacked more than 37 at our other locations.”

Mentor will be the fifth Rainforest wash in the Cleveland market. The closest is on Mayfield Road in Cleveland Heights.

The interior follows the Rainforest motif, featuring moving mechanical animals. Washes will range from $6 to $16 per vehicle.

The facility will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week and have about a dozen employees.

The goal is to begin construction this summer and open by Jan. 1.

“We will see where the economy takes us over the next couple months,” Gile said. “We are still moving forward so we are ready to go when the business comes back.”