Natick Car-Wash Proposal Draws Hot Water, Temp May Go Up Wednesday

NATICK, MA — A much-debated plan to build a car wash here could get hosed Wednesday, or emerge with a wax-and-shine.

And this isn't the first time such a proposal has created automotive acrimony.

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Prestige Car Wash & Gas wants to convert a long-vacant retail property at 625 Worcester St. (MA Route 9) into a 5,170-square-foot, two-lane vehicle bath. The idea first went to the Natick Planning Board in February, and then again in March.

Now the project is going to the board on May 6 for a third public hearing.

Some neighbors have expressed concerns, saying the car wash will create more noise, traffic and safety hazards in an already congested area, according to the Natick Report.

What’s more, the 1.1-acre parcel sits partly in a residential zoning district. So the owner, Canton-based Boston Capital Investment Group, needs approval from the planning board.

Boston Capital, which is affiliated with Prestige, has said that repurposing the former property of Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams, a high-end furnishings store, would create more green space for the neighborhood.

That's because blueprints call for wider setbacks from Route 9, and there won't be as much need for parking.

Boston Capital has recently made several modifications to its original proposal, according to April filings with the town. Calls to reach the firm for comment and clarification about the changes were not returned on Monday.

Fire-lane findings in Natick

Among the issues being grappled with by the board: Whose fire lane is it?

Boston Capital plans to demolish the existing structure and construct the car wash entirely within the commercial zoning portion of the parcel.

But there's need for an emergency access that might require crossing into the residential area. On April 22, the developer pledged that path would rarely be tread.

"The fire lane will never be used for any purpose other th"an public safety access," said a letter from the project's attorney, Jonathan Silverstein.

Critics have countered with an explanation of what "access" means: The strip of land will be used for a commercial purpose, thus not conforming to town code.

Silverstein's letter to the board pointed out that such nonconformities already exist, since there's a dumpster and other facilities there.

Car-wash controversies

Car washes are a staple for American drivers.

They recorded a high of 2 billion washes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Besides the concerns expressed in Natick, some communities across the U.S. have worried about the environmental impact of car-wash water.

The industry says a commercial facility typically dispenses far less dirty run-off than you would if you were washing a car in your driveway.

And the industry can also be cutthroat.

Prestige bought the Natick property two years ago, according to town records, and it currently has an assessed value of $4.7 million.

Boston Capita l initially sought the necessary town approvals last November. That followed the acquisition of four car washes in central Massachusetts for $3.4 million, according to the Worcester Business Journal.

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