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Planning commission approves modified hours for downtown car wash; staff to monitor queuing and noise
Summary
The Baldwin Park Planning Commission adopted Resolution PC25-12 to modify conditional use permit CP24-02, allowing both hand-wash and express (automatic) services during daytime hours with measures to manage vehicle queuing and noise. The commission approved the modification unanimously on May 14.
The Baldwin Park Planning Commission on May 14 approved a modification to conditional use permit CP24-02 to allow both hand-wash and express (automatic) car-wash services to operate during overlapping daytime hours, with operational limits and monitoring measures to address potential queuing and noise near nearby residences.
Staff said the applicant, Smart Engineering Inc., seeks to offer both express and hand-wash services between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.; express service would continue to operate during evening hours where previously approved (6 p.m. to 10 p.m.). The site is at 46 East Sterling Way in the Downtown Baldwin Park specific-plan area and is approximately 0.39 acres. The property currently contains a hand-wash facility, an oil-and-lube bay and a mini convenience market; those uses would remain.
To manage on-site vehicle queues, staff said the operator will use traffic cones and employee direction to separate drive lines for hand wash and express services. The draft conditions allow city staff to monitor the site and to revoke or modify the permit if queuing creates off-site impacts. Staff also noted noise limits that apply to sites adjacent to residential uses and said community-enhancement or code-enforcement staff can measure decibel levels and respond to complaints.
Commissioners asked about discrepancies in employee counts cited in the staff report and the applicant’s justification. Staff said the intended evening express shift would be limited to two employees; the applicant confirmed two employees would be present during evening express-only hours, and that more staff would be on site during daytime full-service operations. The applicant said the tunnel will be upgraded to an express tunnel and that loud equipment components (dryers) are oriented toward the commercial side of the property rather than toward residences.
Action and vote: The commission adopted Resolution PC25-12 approving CP24-02 mod on a unanimous roll call (Chair Pena: yes; Vice Chair Gonzales: yes; Commissioner Escobosa: yes; Commissioner Miranda DeZig: yes). Staff said tenant-improvement plans for the tunnel have not yet been submitted and that the applicant is seeking the modified hours before completing those plans.
Conditions and enforcement: The adopted resolution includes conditions that (1) require on-site queue management (cones and employee direction), (2) limit vacuum and other potentially noisy operations per the staff-approved schedule, and (3) allow city staff to revoke or modify hours if off-site impacts occur. Code enforcement will generally act on complaints but can also proactively monitor sites if issues arise.
