Greenfield council approves expansion of Mega Laundromat at 4101 W. Howard with conditions

The Greenfield Common Council on Jan. 21 approved a special-use permit and site plan for an expansion of Mega Laundromat at 4101 West Howard Avenue, incorporating conditions on landscaping, building repairs and operating hours. Alderperson Bailey moved approval; Alderperson Druswicky seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

The decision allows the laundromat to expand into a former tanning-salon space and use a total of about 3,400 square feet. Gina, the city planner, told the council the Planning Commission recommended approval at its Dec. 11 meeting and said the applicant and staff agreed to limit hours of operation to 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. rather than the 24-hour schedule originally proposed. Gina also reported the plan calls for masonry cleaning and repainting, updated doors and exterior trim, electrical updates to code, and enclosure of the dumpster.

Why it matters: nearby homeowners and the Cherokee Point Homeowners Association raised concerns about public safety, overnight use, and a severe shortage of off-street parking at the site. Those issues, the applicant’s mitigation plans and the agreed hours were central to the council’s review.

Residents told the council they support exterior and interior improvements but urged stronger security and staffing measures. Jim Heller, president of the Cherokee Point Homeowners Association and a homeowner across the street, said the HOA had filed a letter of objection and described worries about an unstaffed facility: "When problems are predictable, they're preventable." Heller told the council he believed on-site staffing during operating hours would reduce loitering and late-night problems and noted the neighborhood already sees speeding on West Howard.

Applicant responses and site controls: the owner and applicant, Kabir Ahmed of ND Ventures LLC, told the council the expansion was intended to consolidate tenant uses so fewer businesses compete for limited parking. Ahmed said the business currently employs one part-time worker and uses a small cleaning crew that visits daily; he said the operation is not yet large enough to support a full-time attendant but "if there's enough business, you know, we'll gladly put it into a full time attendant." Ahmed also told the council he had installed surveillance cameras "in the front and the back" and gave a phone number customers can call to report problems. He said he purchased the property in 2023 and expects the remaining review, design and permitting steps to take several months, with a rough target of late spring or early summer for construction if approvals proceed.

Parking and residential conversions: Gina told the council the building-wide parking requirement is 39 spaces but the current plan provides only about 10 off-street spaces; the council may waive the shortage as part of the special-use approval. Ahmed said his plan converts former salon space into two residential units and expands the laundromat to reduce the number of separate commercial tenants competing for limited parking.

Public record and next steps: the city placed the written comments and the HOA letter into the record; staff noted two written objections had been received and no letters of support. The council’s approval incorporates the site landscaping and architectural plans with modifications discussed in the hearing and the 6 a.m.–10 p.m. hours agreed with the applicant and staff. The owner must complete final architectural stamping and city review steps before construction begins.

Votes at a glance: Motion to approve resolution and site landscaping/architectural plans with modifications and hours of operation 6 a.m.–10 p.m. — Mover: Alderperson Bailey; Second: Alderperson Druswicky; Vote: Alderperson Sarian, Aye; Alderperson Akers, Aye; Alderperson Kasner, Aye; Alderperson Druswicky, Aye; Alderperson Bailey, Aye. Outcome: approved unanimously.

The council left the record open for the written materials already submitted; staff and the applicant will proceed with final plan stamping and permit steps before construction and interior work begin.