Council approves rezoning for car wash site despite neighborhood noise and safety objections

The Lubbock City Council on March 11 approved a zoning change that will allow a Mighty Wash car wash at the former Community Christian Church site near 90 Sixth Street and Indiana Avenue, after neighbors testified about noise, visual intrusion and safety concerns. The motion passed 6–1.

Residents living immediately across 90 Sixth Street urged the council to reject the request, citing potential noise from vacuums and blowers and the structure's visibility above a seven‑foot fence. Marcus Hurd, who said he lives directly across the street, said he had visited other Mighty Wash locations and worried that landscaping would not be maintained over time. "I'm not confident that they can keep that looking attractive over several years," Hurd said.

Nut graf: Although the city's planning staff recommended approval and the applicant proposed buffers and a fence, neighbors emphasized sound levels and property value concerns; the council approved the rezoning with one member dissenting.

Other residents described family safety concerns, particularly for seniors and children who use front yards and small play areas. "There's a lot of senior citizens that live there... If one of those senior citizens was to fall outside, their spouse or their neighbor could not hear them," said Billy Stelzer, a resident. Rachel Myers, who said she homeschools five children who play in a backyard adjacent to the proposed site, said the proposed wall would not replace the existing quiet of the neighborhood.

Planning staff noted the property's future land‑use designation for commercial uses and the Master Thoroughfare Plan's designation of Indiana Avenue as a principal arterial; staff said the requested auto‑urban commercial zoning conforms with city planning documents and recommended approval. The developer's representatives told planning commission members they would provide required buffer yard landscaping and a seven‑foot fence; the zoning code also permits a masonry option in some locations.

Councilmembers asked for details on distance from houses and on possible fence materials and tree plantings to mitigate visual and sound impacts. City staff reported the distance from front doors on 90 Sixth Street to the car wash opening would be about 70 feet door‑to‑door; the city manager said the Citizens Tower to the police building is roughly 400 feet as a point of reference. Staff said the buffer would include required trees and a seven‑foot fence; the applicant said vacuums run while the business is open and are turned off after hours.

Councilmember Rose said he could not support the site as presented because of the industrial noise next to residences; others said a masonry wall and strong maintenance commitments from the operator could reduce impacts. The final council vote was 6 in favor, 1 opposed.