Vacant Coco's Restaurant In Lake Elsinore Proposed As Car Wash

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — A vacant Coco's Bakery in Lake Elsinore is proposed to become an automated Tommy’s Express Car Wash, but the business's "Buzz Lightyear" architectural style is a little too spacey for some of the city's planning commissioners.

During the Nov. 2 Lake Elsinore Planning Commission meeting, it was decided that an application from Matzuy and Associates to demolish the Coco's restaurant at 31706 Casino Drive and construct a new 5,243-square-foot automated Tommy's would require further discussion.

Commissioners voted 4-1 to continue the public hearing on the matter to Nov. 16. It will give the applicant time to work with the city to come up with an architectural style more in line with the Ballpark District's Spanish Revival feel, according to the commissioners who voted in favor of the continuance.

Commissioner Michael Carroll was the lone dissenter. Not only did he disagree with the space-age architecture for the area he was also troubled by the number of car washes already in the area.

"I believe this just doesn't fit that area," Carroll said of the proposed architecture. "It looks like something out of Buzz Lightyear's Disneyland trip."

And he asked, "When does the market reach saturation?"

Commissioners Matthew Dobler, Rendell Klaarenbeek, and Jodi Peters agreed with Carroll, but were persuaded by city staff that there was nothing in the municipal code that would prevent the car wash from locating at the spot. Less than a quarter-mile away sits Casino Car Wash at 31784 Casino Drive. The business was given notice about the proposed project but did not provide any comment to the city, according to city staff.

Randy Madrid of RM Project Management is working with the project applicant and was on hand for the Nov. 2 meeting. He also serves on the Menifee Planning Commission. A Tommy's location in his city celebrated its grand opening in 2018. The car wash features the company's signature space-age branding.

"We've had no complaints," Madrid said.

"I notice what it looks like," Carroll countered.

Regardless of whether the project gets a green light at the Nov. 16 Lake Elsinore Planning Commission meeting, something will soon become of the vacant Coco's building. According to city staff, it has been declared a public nuisance due to the number of homeless people who gather near it.