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Board approves Crew Car Wash special‑exception despite neighborhood objections over concentration and traffic
Summary
The Board of Zoning Appeals approved a special‑exception for a Crew Car Wash at 4353 Franklin Street by a 4–1 vote, subject to site and easement conditions recommended by planning staff; opponents cited overconcentration of car washes and potential harm to neighboring redevelopment.
The Michigan City Board of Zoning Appeals voted to grant petition B-101-25 on April 14, approving a special‑exception for a Crew Car Wash at 4353 Franklin Street, the former Red Lobster site, subject to several conditions from the planning department relating to easements, site circulation, signage and INDOT permits.
Attorney Christopher Willoughby and Crew representatives presented a revised site plan that added a dedicated bypass/pass-through lane and four wash lanes; Katherine Rener of Crew’s real-estate team said the company has revised the design to address circulation and safety concerns and emphasized Crew’s track record and local investment plans. “Crew is a standard bearer…they intend to go above and beyond,” Rener said.
Planning staff recommended approval with conditions including execution and recording of a revised cross‑access easement to permit proposed west access/egress driveways, two‑way signage and traffic navigation measures, a limit on stacking stations (staff recommended three), an updated site plan with the bypass lane moved to the far side for safety review, and INDOT permit approval for any infrastructure changes.
Public testimony split. Supporters highlighted investment, property rehabilitation and jobs; one resident said Crew would pay property taxes and bring activity to a vacant site. Opponents—including local business owners and a national car‑wash operator—argued the immediate area already contains multiple car washes and that adding another would harm neighboring businesses and complicate redevelopment. A local real‑estate commenter said the site has potential for other commercial uses and warned about over‑saturating the market.
Board members debated traffic, the site’s compatibility with the comprehensive plan and how conditions could be framed to ensure safe circulation and off‑site impacts were mitigated. A motion to approve the special‑exception subject to conditions passed with a 4–1 roll call (Carol Spritzer voted no); the planning department will require recorded easements, review and approval of the updated site plan by the enforcement officer and city engineer, and INDOT sign/off where required before the car wash opens.
What’s next: Crew will need to finalize and record the cross‑access easement, submit an updated site plan meeting city‑engineer requirements, secure INDOT approvals where applicable, and obtain all building and sanitary permits before construction can proceed.
