REDONDO BEACH, CA — Even though initial approval has been given and a lease has been signed, residents here are rallying against the development of a new carwash, dailybreeze.com reported.
The Oct. 13 story stated that Redondo Beach Car Wash is currently scheduled to replace a carwash that was abandoned for over 10 years. After being heralded by city leaders in August, the proposed wash now faces opposition from nearby residents.
Residents who live near the business have held two neighborhood meetings to talk about the issue, and they argue that the traffic, noise and air pollution from a carwash would negatively affect their lives. A petition that began circulating last week received 50 signatures in less than 24 hours.
Neighbors angry over carwash application
“We’d like to see a business that would add to the neighborhood,” Rick Son said in the story. Son lives in a townhome directly behind the lot with his wife and three young children. “Something organic that creates a neighborhood environment. This is a step in the wrong direction.”
Residents will attend the city planning commission meeting in November where the wash’s conditional use permit will be addressed. Because this commission’s decision can be appealed, the city council will probably end up with the final say on the project.
Operator Chris McKenna noted that the carwash’s tunnel will use noise-dampening technology, and a landscaped buffer zone on the property will reduce noise as well. The wash also will funnel traffic onto Torrance Boulevard instead of a quiet residential street.
Letter calls on city to deny carwash location
McKenna said he has met with nearby residents to discuss their concerns, and he has already spent more than $130,000 on the project. “We’ve done everything possible to work with the neighbors and be as friendly as we could possibly be. I don’t know what more could be done,” he said in the story.
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