Proposal Could Wash Up Longtime Commercial Eyesore In Vernon

VERNON, CT — A prime piece of land along a busy stretch of Route 83 in Vernon that has stood dormant for years could be primed for new life.

Vernon Economic Development Coordinator Shaun Gately said this week that the owners of Economy Oil Change on Route 30 are proposing to build a car wash on the former Exxon/Mobil gas station at 56 Talcottville Road, the local address for that section of Route 83. It's a patch of land across from the Tri-City Plaza shopping center measuring .98 acres. It was cleared years ago and blends in with a state communuter lot on its side of Route 83.

What could be called Economy Car Wash Express has been proposed as a 4,988-square-foot, fully enclosed car wash facility, with exterior vacuums, as well as "the associated infrastructure," Gately said.

In order to proceed with the plan as presented, applicants would need several special permits and a site pan approval.

Locally, Gately said, the principal use of "motor vehicle washing facility" is allowed by special permit under Section 4.9.4.18.

A formal timetable for possible construction would be discussed after the local regulatory process, Gately said.

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel

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