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Planning commission approves Tommy's Express car wash at Bluffton Parkway and Simmonsville Road
Summary
Commissioners approved a preliminary plan for a 4,265-square-foot automated Tommy's Express car wash on about 1.49 acres. The applicant widened Simmonsville Road access, added raised medians and said the design provides 17'18 cars of stacking; the commission confirmed DOT reviewed the Simmonsville access.
The Planning Commission on Aug. 28 approved a preliminary development plan for a Tommy's Express automated car wash, proposing a 4,265-square-foot facility on about 1.49 acres at the northeast corner of Bluffton Parkway and Simmonsville Road.
Town staff reviewed the application, said it met the UDO criteria and recommended approval. Mr. Frazier noted the Simmonsville Road write-in/write-out access was reviewed and approved by DOT and that the project will proceed to stormwater and final development-review steps after preliminary approval.
David Carley of Carolina Engineering described revisions made after the earlier review: the Simmonsville access was widened, raised concrete medians were added (including a 28-foot raised oval median), turn radii were increased and a double-stacking lane on the Simmonsville side was provided. Carley said those measures permit about 17 to 18 cars of stacking before customers approach Simmonsville Road. "The stacking distance for this project ... enables my client to stack about 17, 18 cars in there," Carley said.
Owner and developer Todd Burns said Tommy's belt-driven system is faster than some competitors and expressed confidence the site will not back up onto the public roadway. "We're probably a minimum of 2 to 3 times faster," Burns said, describing throughput and the site's operational model.
Commissioners discussed potential congestion near vacuum and exit areas and received assurances from the applicant that the queuing and stacking plan addresses peak demand. The chair reminded the applicant about restrictions on interior neon visible from the exterior; staff said lighting and visibility details had been addressed in prior review.
A commissioner moved to approve the preliminary development plan as submitted; after a second the commission voted in favor and the chair announced the motion carried. The applicant will finalize stormwater permitting and coordination with the Bluffton Park ARP (Rogers Clifford) as part of final approvals.
