Copper Express Car Wash

Description of Project: The applicant proposes to develop a 3,500 square foot automated car wash located near (approximately 525 ft. to the west of) the northwest corner of East Copper and North Maple Avenues (Figure 1). The project site is within the Woodward Park Community Plan and includes a General Plan Amendment (GPA) from Commercial Community (CC) to Commercial General (CG). A Rezone from CC to the CG zone district will also be required to allow an automated automobile car wash. The rezone to CG would be limited to one proposed use of an automated car wash. No other uses are proposed. Primary ingress and egress to the site will be from East Copper Avenue on the south with access available from the east via a shared access driveway with the existing commercial shopping center. The existing curb and gutter along East Copper Avenue would be removed to construct a street-type approach in accordance with Public Works standard P-76. The car wash will have a tunnel with two driveway aisles and a 16-stall vacuuming area which will be located to the east of the car wash tunnel. One driveway aisle will be 9 ft. 3 in. and the other will be 9 ft. There will also be two pay stations located on the northern portion of the site. Total proposed building area including the car wash tunnel office, bathroom and storage is 3,500 sq. ft. There will also be 2,813 sq. ft. of canopy over the vacuum area and car wash tunnel entrance. The project site will be buffered by landscaping areas on the north, south and west of the property which will serve to mitigate noise and light generated by operation of the car wash (Figure 2 and Figures 3a - 3d). A landscaping strip will also be provided to the east of the car wash tunnel. An 8-ft. masonry sound barrier wall is proposed along the north and west property lines of the project site. Several existing utility easements will remain including an 11 ft. easement on the north of the property, a 30 ft. easement on the west of the property, and a 77 ft. PG&E easement on the south of the property. The highest point on the parapet of the car wash is 21 ft. and the canopy will be a height of 15 ft. The project would produce wastewater from the car wash process. However, the project integrates a recycling and filtering system that would remove and settle solids, greases, and other material into an underground reclamation tank for recycling and reuse. The project conserves water by recycling water. The project also includes two bathrooms, each with one toilet and sink, a 300 sq. ft. office and equipment room. Existing water, sewer, storm drains, and electricity are located within East Copper Avenue to the south as well as to the west and north. A water fire suppression line is located within the proposed driveway on the east (refer to Figure 2). Construction of the project would result in site preparation activities including minor grading, paving and trenching to install utilities as well as pouring concrete, laying pavement, erecting the car wash structure and teller booths, installing landscaping and lighting, etc.