Council delays decision on Washoe/GR Development car wash after traffic, safety objections

GR Development LLC, represented by Attorney Joseph Tabby, asked the Woburn City Council on Dec. 3, 2024 for a special permit to build an express Washoe ("Washville") car wash at 325 Montvale Ave. Project team members who presented included Jim Waterman (executive vice president, Washoe), site engineer Chris York and traffic engineer Robert Bollinger.

Waterman described the company’s express, membership-driven model and community engagement efforts. The site plan presented would include a 110–135 foot tunnel, three pay lanes, 23 vacuum stations, right-turn-only exit, landscaping, down-facing dark-sky lighting and on-site queuing designed to avoid stacking onto Montvale Ave. Bollinger’s traffic-impact study used empirical trip-generation data from three comparator Washoe sites (Concord NH, Methuen MA, and Tingsborough MA) and projected a relatively small corridor-level impact, with the largest incremental trips occurring at Saturday midday periods; he offered to participate in a city-selected peer review.

Councilors and several residents were sharply skeptical. Multiple council members — including Ward councilors who drive Montvale Ave daily — said the corridor already experiences recurring queuing and that even isolated left-turn violations would create serious safety and congestion problems. Councilors asked for site-specific trip data from high-volume Washoe locations, questioned selection of comparators, and raised concerns about whether on-site controls (signs, lane geometry, staff) would prevent drivers from making left turns or creating dangerous queuing on the newly widened Montvale Ave. One resident and several councilors said they did not support the location.

After discussion the petitioner requested time to review comments and either revise the proposal or withdraw. The council voted to continue the public hearing to the January meeting (as recorded by the clerk).