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Developers propose express car wash for 1317–1319 Hooksett Road; board presses for renderings, landscape plan and proof of demand
Summary
Greenman Peterson/GR Development presented a conceptual plan for a 4,765 sq ft express car wash at 1317–1319 Hooksett Road. Board members raised questions about architecture, landscaping, traffic demand and an 870 sq ft wetland disturbance; the applicant will return with revised renderings and studies.
Developers presented conceptual plans to demolish an existing auto‑wholesale building at 1317–1319 Hooksett Road and build a 4,765‑square‑foot express car wash with three drive‑through bays, 24 vacuum spaces and three employee parking stalls. Grant, the planning staff, said the proposal would reduce on‑site impervious surface from roughly 85,000 to under 40,000 square feet while proposing approximately 870 square feet of wetland impact and new stormwater treatment.
Chris York of Greenman Peterson (GPI) and a company representative explained operational details, including reuse of an existing driveway, two proposed stormwater basins and a recycled‑water system (planner and applicant estimated about 60% recycled water use). The applicant's representative described the business model as an "express, membership‑based" operation and said the company operates 23 sites in New England.
Board members pressed the applicant for additional documentation on several points. Paul Scarpetti and other members requested alternative architectural elevations that comply with Hooksett's New England/colonial design preferences; Mr. Scarpetti said he would like to see pitched‑roof options rather than the modern panelized siding the applicant favored. Sheena Gilbert and others raised landscaping and screening concerns, arguing that tree plantings should better mask the vacuum bays and parking areas and that proposed shrub species must tolerate winter snow‑storage.
Traffic and demand were a key focus. Several members said they had not observed substantial queuing at nearby car washes and asked the applicant for comparative data from towns more similar in size to Hooksett. The planner described two likely waiver requests: a traffic‑study waiver (submitting a memo instead) on the basis that trip increases are minimal compared with current auto‑wholesale trip generation, and a landscaping waiver (reduced street‑tree counts to match neighboring development). Some members signaled willingness to consider the traffic waiver if the expected trip generation is small and sight‑distance and queuing did not create safety issues.
On wetlands, the applicant said they will seek Conservation Commission input and file with the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services as needed; the planning board indicated it would provide a favorable letter to the ZBA contingent on Conservation Commission review. The applicant agreed to circulate alternative renderings and a more detailed landscape plan before returning to the planning board for formal design review.
Quotes from the hearing capture the exchange: Chris York introduced himself, "My name is Chris York with GPI." Resident and company representative comments on operations included the applicant's statement, "We allow anyone at any time, while during our business operating hours to utilize our vacuums." The board asked for visual alternatives and data before any final determination.
Next steps: applicant to circulate additional architectural options and a landscape plan to staff; Conservation Commission will be asked to review wetland disturbance and the planning board will prepare a favorable letter to the ZBA conditioned on Conservation input.
