Redevelopment of former Bickford's site to car wash prompts peer review and continuance to January

A proposal to redevelop the former Bickford’s restaurant site on Montvale Avenue into a car wash moved forward on Nov. 21 with the Woburn Conservation Commission’s decision to seek peer review and continue the hearing into January.

Maureen Herold (North Environmental Services) and Chris York (design engineer) presented plans for the car‑wash redevelopment at 325 Montvale Ave, describing the site as redevelopment under riverfront standards adjacent to the Aberjona River buffer. The team said the proposal will reduce riverfront impervious area substantially (presenters cited a drop from roughly 12,400 sq ft to about 6,900 sq ft within the riverfront area) and incorporate StormTech chamber infiltration, catch basins with pretreatment (an isolator row) and an oil‑water separator. Inside‑building wash water will be treated by reclaimed-water tanks and an oil/water separator, with reclaimed water reused for wash cycles and the remaining discharge sent to sewer after pretreatment.

Commissioners emphasized the town’s peer‑review requirement for commercial/industrial sites. They questioned test‑pit placement and the variability in estimated seasonal high groundwater across logs (some logs showed higher seasonal water levels and standing water), recommending additional test pits closer to the proposed infiltration areas. Commissioners also probed assumptions used to claim a small TSS credit for a proposed street‑sweeping schedule.

The commission voted to send the proposal to peer review and to continue the public hearing to Jan. 9, 2025 (applicant accepted Jan. 9 with the expectation of a likely continuation to Jan. 23 after peer‑review work and document exchange). Applicants will provide peer‑review responses and any supplemental materials per the commission’s submittal deadlines.