Middlebury’s Planning and Zoning Commission has approved a car wash at this former Suzuki dealership at 2160 Straits Turnpike in Middlebury. (Marjorie Needham photo)
By TERRENCE S. MCAULIFFE
For years, #MIDDLEBURY zoning regulations have forbidden both drive-throughs and car washes. That’s about to change. At its March 3 meeting, the Middlebury Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) meeting unanimously approved an amendment to the zoning regulations to allow a commercial car wash as an accessory use to an auto dealership.
The amendment was requested by Patrick Bayliss, d/b/a County Line Carriage Inc., at 2160 Straits Turnpike, formerly the location of a Suzuki dealership. Attorney Michael McVerry told commissioners the requested amendment was similar to one approved in 2009 for the Gateway Industrial Design District. He said the accessory use was a natural addition to an auto dealership and would add to the grand list.
The car wash would be full service, not self wash, he said, and open to the public for vehicles of less than five tons gross weight. Chairman Terry Smith said he was concerned about waiting vehicles lining up out onto Straits Turnpike and water from the car wash turning into hazardous ice on the road during cold weather.
Bayliss said the car wash could serve 20 to 30 vehicles per hour but he did not anticipate that much demand. He also said the facility would recycle most of the water and use a grit trap that would require twice-yearly cleaning.
The zoning amendment was approved with the stipulation the car-wash design not allow stacking of vehicles onto the public right-of-way and not allow hazardous conditions such as ice on the public right-of-way. Bayliss still needs to apply for a permit and provide a site plan for the car wash.
The next regular P&Z meeting will be Thursday, April 7, at 7:30 p.m. at Shepardson Community Center.
You must be logged in to post a comment.