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Lockport council approves Mr. Car Wash special use permit, developer outlines larger Lockport Springs plan
Summary
The City Council approved a special-use permit for a Mr. Car Wash at the Lockport Springs frontage, clearing the way for a 1.11-acre car-wash site and underpinning a developer’s plan for a larger 6.6-acre retail outlot project that the developer said could attract sit-down restaurants and other national tenants.
The Lockport City Council voted to approve a special-use permit for a Mr. Car Wash at the Lockport Springs frontage, authorizing the car-wash operator to purchase and develop a 1.11-acre lot next to a planned Wendy’s. The approval came after a presentation from developer Richard (Ricky) Silverman of MJK Real Estate and public discussion from residents and council members.
The permit passed as motion 25-013, moved by Susie and seconded by JR; council members recorded votes during roll call and the motion passed. The council and developer framed the vote as enabling wider redevelopment: Silverman said the car wash would “unlock the value of the out lots of the Lockport Springs, purchase additional land, and bring national credit tenants.”
Why it matters: Council members and the developer described the car wash as a stepping stone to grade changes and additional building sites on a larger, multi-parcel plan. Silverman showed a phased plan that begins with 2.75 acres he already owns and could expand to about 6.6 acres if he completes contracts to buy adjacent parcels from Continental and other owners.
Most important facts: Silverman told the council the full Lockport Springs frontage he seeks to develop includes a 3.58-acre parcel he first contracted for and additional lots obtained through a land swap; the proposed car-wash parcel is 1.11 acres immediately east of an under-construction Wendy’s (0.86 acres in Silverman’s slides). He described engineering work (retaining walls and grading) needed to bring the eastern parcels to usable grade and said he is under contract to buy two blue lots owned by Continental and a green lot owned by the Sacalakis family to assemble the larger site.
Council and resident views: Some council members said the site’s slope and its adjacency to homes made the developer’s approach plausible. Councilmember remarks praised Silverman’s track record in Lockport and called his management of existing assets a factor in support. Resident Liz Winters told the council she and neighbors had hoped for sit-down restaurants on the highway-front parcels and asked whether city zoning or approvals could have better specified future tenants; the mayor’s office replied that the car wash requires a special-use permit and that the council weighed the site constraints and the developer’s plan in deciding.
What the developer presented: Silverman identified himself as a third-generation retail developer and said MJK built multiple Lockport projects, including a Chipotle and several other tenants. He outlined a timeline in which entitlements for a larger Phase 2 would be pursued in 2026 with a possible 2027 groundbreaking, and said the Wendy’s on the corner was tracking to open in December. He said Mr. Car Wash’s prototype building would be 32 feet high and that he planned a retaining wall to raise adjacent parcels to grade if approvals proceed.
Dissent and conditions: During public comment, some residents and at least one council member expressed disappointment that a car wash, rather than a sit-down restaurant, would occupy the high-visibility lot; Winters said neighbors felt a car wash “is not necessary in Lockport.” Council discussion noted that only certain uses automatically fit the zoning and that a car wash requires the special-use review the council completed.
Formal action: The council approved the special-use permit (motion 25-013). The motion was moved by Susie, seconded by JR, and passed in roll call. The record shows multiple council members voting yes and at least one absentee noted.
What’s next: With the special-use permit approved, Silverman said he would move forward on closing and on civil engineering for grading and retaining walls; he also said he intends to market remaining outlots for national restaurant users once Lockport Springs, Mr. Car Wash and Wendy’s are operating.
The council’s packet and developer slides included lot acreage, conceptual site plans and a proposed timeline; council members encouraged the developer to continue community outreach about future tenants.
