Car wash gets board approval to expand Nearby business owners opposed plan to add space, services BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer "… I think that every individual that comes up deserves respect and consideration in reviewing the application." - Kathy Makowski Councilwoman SAYREVILLE - A Route 9 car wash won borough approval for its expansion plans last week, withstanding the opposition of nearby competitors. Posh Car Wash will be permitted to add two oil change bays to the existing business. The Planning Board on Sept. 19 approved the two-story addition along with an expansion of services offered by the business. Owner Mark Markowitz said he reached agreements with several nearby residents and borough police in order to meet the needs of the community while planning for the expansion. The car wash is located on a half-acre lot on Route 9 south. "I have been here for 17 years at that facility," Markowitz said, adding that he grew up in Sayreville and attended borough schools. Nick Borruso, Parlin resident who owns the Meineke shop next to Posh Car Wash, testified against the application, as did Jiffy Lube owner Michael Vanderbilt. Borruso said he fears that the car wash's plans will disrupt the orderly flow of customers entering and exiting his business, since it adds a buffer between the businesses. He also thinks the car wash will attract more customers than it can handle. "Meineke shouldn't have to share in this problem," Borruso said. The Planning Board, however, voted unanimously to approve the application. Board Chairman Dr. John Misiewicz explained that the business, which is under the name MK Associates on the application, worked with neighbors and the borough. "The applicant presented very professionally, addressed all of the concerns of the Planning Board and professionals, and [the application] was approved," he said. Planning Board member and Councilwoman Kathy Makowski voted in support of the application, but she said that the board should be aware of oversized businesses that wish to expand services on small lots. "A lot of growth will continue in town," she said. Misiewicz took exception to Makowski's comment, saying that this decision is not a matter of opinion, but is based on whether the applicant met the legal criteria to expand his business. "No one likes growth or overpopulation," Misiewicz said, noting that the board considers all applications carefully. He added that the board is bound by the laws of the state, county and municipality in all of its decisions. "Her caution demeans the board," he said. "She has been recently [appointed to] the board. I took it as an affront." Misiewicz said Makowski was "pandering to the audience." "She voted yes to approve the application, but on the other hand she patted Mr. Borruso on the back," he said. Makowski told Greater Media Newspapers that residents have raised concerns to her about oversized structures. She added that she understands that laws guide the board, but added that it is important for members to maintain an awareness of the public's concerns. "It was not so much a warning as [a comment saying that] we have to be aware," Makowski said. "A number of residents have come up to me since I joined the Planning Board." Makowski said that her comment was not a criticism of her fellow board members. "I respect Mr. Borusso for coming forth with his comments," Makowski said, "and I think that every individual that comes up deserves respect and consideration in reviewing the application." Misiewicz noted that Borruso did not answer a question from Planning Board member Michael Macagnone on whether the Meineke owner opposed the application for financial reasons. Mechanical work is allowed in the zone where the car wash is located, Misiewicz said. This includes VIP service with air conditioning, transmission fluid, and air tire checks. "Auto repair shops are approved," he said. The business is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Markowitz said, but full service, including interior work, is offered only until 5 p.m. After that, only the exterior of vehicles is cleaned. Markowitz said the car wash has offered detailing and courtesy photo inspections, but the additional services will require the business to expand office space and make room for work on oil changes, he added. The express oil change will be offered from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Scott Freund, vice president of Posh Car Wash, said the oil change service will provide the business with extra revenue for the car wash operation. The added services will include a number of different checks and topping off fluids, Freund said. It should take 10 to 20 minutes to service a car on the site, he added. "We will not provide heavy repairs," Freund said, adding that the additional services are about convenience to the customer. He said it should not contribute to a significant increase in traffic volume. Saturday is the highest volume day, and when busy, employees will have to limit the services offered to customers at that time, Freund said. A discount or free service will be offered when the customer returns, he added. Freund estimated that the business sees between 15 and 20 cars a day during weekdays, 25 to 30 cars a day on Saturdays. Sunday has a lower volume of customers. James Cleary, engineer for Posh Car Wash, discussed the plans to add the two-story building, and said striping work will provide customers direction to the areas they need to be for various services. There will be a primary lane and a secondary lane, the latter for emergency vehicles and people who enter the property and opt to bypass the service lane. Burlew Place will be changed to an exit only, in the interest of minimizing traffic near neighboring residences. To satisfy the borough's tree ordinance, two trees will be planted on the site and the business will donate money for the planting of trees elsewhere in the borough, since there is no space for the seven additional trees that are required. "We have provided various improvements to the site based on prior comments," Cleary said. Customers are encouraged to wait inside the business while work is being done, Cleary said, so patrons should not need to use the parking spaces available. Nonetheless, Posh Car Wash meets the required number of parking spaces, with 16. Nicholas Bellizzi, a licensed professional engineer, told the board that the state Department of Transportation (DOT) issued the business a letter of no interest, saying that the state will not require the owner to get a new permit for the additional loop that will be constructed. Bellizzi said that while there is space for stacking lanes in case the business gets busy, that will likely be unnecessary. Vanderbilt, a Morganville resident whose Jiffy Lube business on Route 9 in Sayreville is approximately one mile from the car wash, told the board that the car wash might draw a significantly greater number of customers than it expects with the added services. He said it is not unusual for such businesses to garner 80 customers per day. Borruso expressed concerns that the three lanes currently on the site will be reduced. He added that since the car wash is offering prices that are lower than neighboring competition, and the business is expanding services, they should expect a greater volume of traffic on the site. In response, Misiewicz said the applicant already addressed the issues that Borruso raised, including parking and handicap-parking requirements. He said later that the loop will be the same size as it is now, and the lanes will be striped to form two lanes rather than three. Macagnone said it is unlikely that the business will have vehicles backed up to Route 9, in light of testimony from the applicant's professionals. He added that the board cannot deny an applicant because neighboring business owners do not want the increased competition. "Competition is not a reason to not approve an application," Macagnone said.