Petitioners seek allowance for coin-operated laundromats in COR district; commission asks staff for more research

A private petitioner asked the Planning and Community Design Commission on July 23 to consider a text amendment that would allow coin-operated self-service laundromats in Olivette's COR (Commercial-Office-Retail) district.

Mary Julian, the petitioner, and Kevin Fry, introduced as a laundromat expert with 25 years of experience, outlined four reasons to allow laundromats along Olive Boulevard: the corridor is a prime commercial area, laundromats provide a basic service for renters and seniors, they can reuse vacant commercial storefronts, and modern operations are low-impact and professionally managed. Julian said the proposed hours would be 7 a.m.–9 p.m., with an attendant present from 10 a.m. until close.

Several commissioners expressed concerns about safety and lingering/loitering associated with 24-hour or late-night operations and asked whether new apartment developments already provide in-unit laundry. Commissioner questions focused on whether hours, staffing and lighting conditions could address safety and whether the amendment, if adopted, would affect many properties across a long commercial corridor. Laundromat expert Kevin Fry said equipment and management practices have evolved and that modern facilities can be well managed.

Staff will research conditions used by neighboring cities, verify the prevalence of in-unit laundry in new developments, and return with recommended conditions and examples at a future meeting; no action was taken on the amendment on July 23.