Council approves El Car Wash redevelopment at former Rite Aid site with stormwater and hiring commitments

Council approved a preliminary/final land-development plan to redevelop a vacant Rite Aid at 832 North Lansdowne Avenue into an El Car Wash, after a presentation from planning staff and the developer’s team.

The project team described a single-story, 3,777-square-foot car wash with on-site water reclamation and filtration, expanded landscaping and stormwater-management measures that the applicant said would reduce impervious cover by roughly 20 percent. “None of the car wash operations goes to your waterways,” engineer Kate Weiss told council, describing filtration and reclaimed-tank systems that drain to the sanitary sewer after treatment.

Developer representatives said the business will emphasize local hiring — recruiting staff from within a three-mile radius — provide living wages and benefits, and operate with membership-driven, largely cashless transactions to keep queueing short. They also supplied a chemicals list to staff and the planning commission; the Planning Commission’s condition for approval (receipt of the chemicals list) was satisfied, council members noted.

Councilors asked about queuing, maintenance and nighttime noise; the developer said the site provides adequate stacking, that tanks will be vacuumed on a maintenance schedule, and that an on-site team would maintain landscaping and trash removal daily. Council approved the plan by voice vote after asking staff and applicants questions about stormwater, traffic and operations.

Actions: Council approved the preliminary/final land development plan for El Car Wash at 832 N. Lansdowne Ave by voice vote. The applicants provided a chemicals specification and committed to stormwater improvements and local hiring.