Spark Car Wash outlines queuing, reclaim system and traffic mitigation; board reserves decision

Representatives for Spark Car Wash presented plans on Nov. 18 for a two‑story express car wash at 560 Montauk Highway in West Babylon. Attorney Keith Brown introduced the project team and exhibits; Trent Starr (Spark real estate manager) described operations and staffing, and engineers from Bohler and Stonefield reviewed site design, stormwater controls and traffic analysis.

Spark proposes a two‑story drive‑through car wash building with a gross floor area of about 4,678 square feet, 14 parking spaces (one accessible), two queuing lanes with capacity for 13 vehicles, and a pay station at the south end of the site. The applicant described an on‑site enclosed trash area, town‑compliant landscaping and an on‑site reclaim system consisting of three 2,000‑gallon tanks to capture and reuse process water.

Traffic consultant Amanda LaRosa told the board the study anticipates roughly "approximately 40 entering vehicles in a peak hour" and that the submitted report concluded the proposal would not create a "significant impact" on Montauk Highway. LaRosa said she submitted the traffic assessment to the Town’s reviewing engineer and has received concurrence; she also noted that the proposed driveway includes a left‑egress restriction submitted to the New York State Department of Transportation, which has jurisdiction over Montauk Highway.

Board members raised concerns about vehicle conflicts at the site throat and the driveway — including the potential for vehicles moving in different directions simultaneously — and suggested physical measures (curbing, adjusted radii) in addition to signage. The applicants agreed to review curb geometry and consider additional measures to encourage the required right‑turn egress; they confirmed DOT permits are in process and that applicants would consider tightening the entrance/exit geometry.

Questions about customer privacy and license‑plate recognition were raised. The applicant confirmed that the members‑only lane will use license‑plate recognition technology and stated that plate data will be retained for the length of the membership.

After the presentation and questions, the board moved to close the public hearing and reserved decision pending staff review and any written comments.

Next steps: the record remains open for written comments; the Planning Department will review outstanding technical comments, including DOT conditions, and return a recommendation to the board.