Greenfield council approves expanded Mega Laundromat after neighbor safety, parking concerns

The Greenfield Common Council on Jan. 21 approved a special-use permit and site-plan changes allowing Mega Laundromat to expand into space at 4101 West Howard Avenue, with operating hours limited to 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The vote came after residents and the property owner discussed security, parking and building-condition concerns during a public hearing. Gina, city planner, noted that the Planning Commission recommended approval at its Dec. 11 meeting and that the applicant and the commission had agreed on the hours of operation as "6 AM to 10 PM daily."

The expansion will convert space formerly occupied by a tanning salon and a hair salon; the applicant said the enlarged laundromat will result in "34,100 square feet" of space used for the laundromat and will create two residential units in the lower portion of the building. Gina told the council the building will require a number of exterior and site upgrades, including power-washing and painting masonry, replacing front doors so they match, adding a rear door to match existing rear doors, enclosing the dumpster, updating electrical wiring to code, replacing wall sconces and repairing/replacing wood trim. Engineering staff and the applicant also discussed guttering to reduce ice formation.

Jim Heller, president of the Cherokee Point Homeowners Association, told the council neighborhood residents had been concerned that a 24-hour schedule originally proposed could leave the business unstaffed at times and therefore vulnerable to loitering or other problems. Heller said the revised hours and proposed improvements addressed some concerns but urged either full-time on-site staffing or stronger security measures. "When problems are when they're predictable, they're preventable," Heller said.

Property owner Kadir Ahmed said the business currently has a cleaning crew and occasional check-ins but that a full-time attendant would be a business decision tied to customer volume. "If we expand the laundromat and if there's enough business, you know, we'll gladly put it into a full time attendant," Ahmed told the council. He added the site already has multiple security cameras and a phone number posted for reporting problems.

Residents also raised parking problems. Gina reported the building's parking requirement is 39 spaces but only 10 spaces are provided; the council may waive shortages as part of site approvals. One written comment from a resident described repeated driveway-blocking and a vehicle collision with a yard fence; the resident requested a no-parking sign to prevent cars from blocking driveways.

During the hearing, neighbors urged that fencing and visibility between the commercial property and adjacent residences be addressed; staff said a utility easement and property configuration limit where an owner-installed fence could be placed but the applicant agreed to repair visible damage to a neighbor's fence.

Alderperson Droszweigki seconded the motion to approve the resolution, site landscaping plan and the agreed hours. Council members Alderperson Sarian, Alderperson Akers, Alderperson Kasner, Alderperson Druszweigki and Alderperson Bailey voted aye; the motion carried unanimously.

The approval record notes two written objections filed before the meeting. Planning and engineering follow-up will be required before building permits are issued; Gina said the applicant will need final stamped architectural plans and a subsequent round of city review before construction begins. The applicant estimated permitting and drawing completion could push construction into late spring or early summer, depending on the permitting timeline.

The council placed the public comments and written letters in the record and encouraged neighbors to call the city with questions as the project proceeds.