Zoning Board Denies Auto Detailing Shop's Application

The Hellertown Zoning Hearing Board denied the amended application of Horst and Horst, LLC, to operate an auto detailing business at 720 Main St. at its July 20 meeting.

The board voted 4-1 to deny the application, citing reasons of public safety and lack of proof that the building could not be used for anything else.

The property is located in the borough's Town Center Zoning District, which does not allow for the type of operation proposed.

At a previous zoning hearing board meeting, Horst and Horst applied for an auto body and auto detailing shop, which was also rejected by the board. Horst and Horst have appealed that decision to Northampton County Court.

Gerald Horst said he would withdraw the appeal if the zoning board granted his request to use the building as just an auto detailing shop.

Horst said the auto detailing business would involve the washing, waxing, interior cleaning, polishing and buffing of approximately six to eight cars per day.

He provided professionals to speak about their opinions on the project.

Horst’s real estate agent, Scott Solazzo of Addison Wolfe Real Estate, told the board that in the year-and-a-half the property has been up for sale or lease, no one has made an offer due to the property's limitations.

Solazzo said that in all of the proposed scenarios for reuse discussed, the building was either set too far back or there were not enough parking spaces.

The 720 Main Street property includes eight parking spaces.

Environmental scientist John Dudish told the board that the detailing shop's wash bay would be connected to a self-contained unit, which would not come into contact with the borough’s water supply. He said the chance of contamination would be “negligible at best.”

Zoning board member Thomas Dietrich said he was concerned about the chemicals that would be used, and whether they would be hazardous to the environment and the community. He questioned Dudish about a hazardous materials report submitted to the board.

Dudish explained that some materials, such as car wax, could irritate the eyes if they came into contact with the wax. A rubber dressing vinyl, classified as a hazardous material, would be used at the business. It is flammable as a gas, but once it hits the surface of the car it is no longer flammable, Dudish said.

Horst said his employees have been using all of these products for eight years and have had no health concerns.

Numerous neighbors attended the meeting to oppose the auto detailing shop and cited environmental concerns as a reason for their opposition.

Joe Delfoe, of the Hellertown Borough Authority, told the board that he is against the business because it is too close to an artesian well, which he said could become contaminated due to the nature of the business.

“We are obligated to supply 5,200 people with drinking water, now and into the future,” he said.

A neighboring resident, Phyllis Coronado, said she had concerns about both water and air quality, due to the chemicals that might be used. She submitted a petition to the board with signatures from 36 neighbors opposing the auto detailing business.