Council hears Drake's Car Wash plan; applicants say noise and queuing issues addressed, third-party approvals pending

Developers seeking to build a Drake's Car Wash on a 1.16-acre parcel along Route 22 presented site plans and renderings in a public hearing and answered council questions about traffic queuing, noise mitigation and signage. The Planning Commission reviewed the proposal in July and August and recommended approval with conditions.

Jonathan Gartchewski, project manager and civil engineer with Gateway Engineers, said the plan largely mirrors a previously approved Tommy's Express design for the site but increases the queue capacity from two to three lanes and reduces vacuum stalls from around 14—15 to nine. Billy Elliott, representing BRP 6, LLC (the applicant), described existing operations at other sites and said the company manages membership programs at its Cranberry location.

Applicants presented a site plan showing the building centrally located between Route 22 and Old William Penn Highway, three covered queue lanes meeting the municipality's 100-foot minimum queue-length requirement, and vacuum stations located at the northern portion of the lot. Materials and glazing for the building were shown to comply with municipal standards.

A third-party acoustical study was submitted and reviewed by the municipality's engineering reviewer; applicants said the study recommends post-construction noise testing, and that a vinyl/PVC sound wall with foam interior is proposed along the north side of the property to reduce sound that leaves the site. Applicants told council that if post-construction testing finds sound levels above ordinance limits they will implement the recommended mitigation and will not operate beyond allowed noise levels until compliance is achieved.

Council and members of the public asked about potential queuing onto Route 22 during peak days. Applicants said that adding a third queue lane increases capacity by roughly 50% compared with the prior two-lane plan and that operations staff would be expected to manage queuing to prevent vehicles from blocking the roadway. Council noted that parking or queuing that blocks a public highway could be enforceable under traffic rules.

Applicants said several municipal review letters had been addressed but that outstanding third-party approvals remain (HOP permit, NPDES/MPDES permitting, FTMSA approvals). Borough staff said submissions received on the day of the meeting appeared to address previously outstanding items and recommended listing the item for council action on the next meeting's agenda once final reviews and third-party approvals are complete.