Council advances Charlie's Car Wash plan to add customer vacuums; special-use ordinance moves to second reading

Don Boos, director of real estate for Blue Beacon Inc. and Charlie's Car Wash, told the council the company is seeking a special-use permit to add 16 customer vacuum stations at the Lee's Summit Charlie's location at 950 Northwest Chipman Road. Boos described a masonry vacuum building and a central vacuum system designed to minimize noise; the turbines will include mufflers and silencers and will be powered only during business hours. "The addition of the vacuums is what requires the special use permit," Boos said, noting the company currently operates full'service car-wash locations but needs self'serve vacuums to remain competitive.

Boos said the proposal would displace roughly 21 employee parking spaces on-site; the company negotiated a perpetual easement with the adjacent property owner for 29 off-site employee spaces. He also said the Lee's Summit location employs about 60 full- and part-time workers and carries an annual payroll of about $1,000,000. Staff (Hector Soto Jr., senior planner) recommended a 20'year special-use permit; council asked questions about circulation, pedestrian access, and noise. Staff confirmed sidewalks and controlled circulation for employee access to the off-site easement.

Councilmember Carlisle read Bill No. 20-5-127 and moved the ordinance to second reading; the motion passed and the item will return for second reading and final adoption at a subsequent meeting.

What's next: The ordinance will appear for second reading at the next council meeting; if adopted, the special-use permit will include conditions on hours (vacuum power off when the site is closed), circulation and a recorded perpetual easement for employee parking.