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Developers propose 13,955‑sq. ft. car wash in Hillsborough Town Center; board forwards comments to zoning board
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Summary
Spotless/Flagship Brands presented a conceptual plan to demolish a vacant bank and build a 13,955‑sq. ft. 'flex' car wash at 425 Route 206. The Planning Board raised stormwater, wetlands, queuing and Town Center compatibility concerns and voted to forward comments to the Board of Adjustment for the applicant's use‑variance application.
An attorney for the applicant and representatives for Spotless Brands told the Hillsborough Planning Board they seek informal feedback on a proposed 13,955‑square‑foot car‑wash facility at 425 Route 206 in the Town Center (TC) and Architectural & Site Design overlay districts.
"We're proposing a 13,955 square foot car wash with associated parking, drive aisles, sidewalks, utility infrastructure, stormwater management, and other site improvements," attorney Jennifer Kinnearick said at the start of the conceptual review. Judy Knop, vice president of development and construction for the operating brand, described the project as a 'flex' concept: a wash tunnel plus optional dry belts and vacuum areas that allow customers different service paths.
Why it matters: the site sits in the Town Center zone, which is intended to promote a pedestrian‑oriented downtown character. Board members and staff repeatedly emphasized that a car wash is not a permitted use in the TC and that the applicant will need a use variance from the Board of Adjustment. Planning staff also pressed the applicant on stormwater, soil reclassification rules under the township's updated stormwater ordinance, and the project’s effect on neighboring properties and future Town Center circulation.
On stormwater, the applicant's engineer said the plan uses porous pavement in the front area, underground treatment devices, and on‑site inlet controls; the team noted they are under NJDEP review for freshwater wetlands where applicable. The applicant said the wash process recycles roughly 40 percent of its water and that any discharge from the wash tunnel would pass through oil‑water separators before reaching the sanitary sewer.
Local residents raised runoff concerns. Albert Internoscia, who owns property north of the site, asked whether the applicant would simply push additional runoff toward his parcels. "My biggest concern is with the water runoff, the impervious increase... I really have grave concerns about the water management," Internoscia said. The engineer responded that porous pavement, inlet controls and an underground storage/infiltration approach are proposed and that the design will aim to reduce peak flows despite increased impervious area.
Board members also questioned traffic circulation and queuing. The applicant said lane queuing at comparable facilities ranged up to 12 vehicles during peak hours and that the site's two dry belts are intended to maintain throughput.
Because the proposed car wash is not a permitted use in the Town Center, the board moved to acknowledge the informal review, record its comments and forward them to the Board of Adjustment; the motion carried on roll call. The applicant said it would proceed to the BOA completeness review and provide the engineering testimony requested by township staff.
What happens next: the Planning Board will prepare a resolution documenting the informal review and the comments it forwarded; the applicant will proceed to the Board of Adjustment for use‑variance and completeness review and will provide additional stormwater and wetlands documentation as part of that process.
