Drivers may have a new option to get their car cleaned in the north end of Livonia in the coming months.
Plans are moving through Livonia City Hall to build a new car wash at the former Napa Auto Parts store on Farmington Road just south of Eight Mile. The new car wash will have several tail lanes and will offer vacuum cleaners to clean the interior of cars as well.
Napa Auto Parts recently moved to a new space along Seven Mile, and its building at the previous location will be demolished to make way for a brand new car wash. Both driveways will remain, with one being a two-way driveway and the other being the exit to the car wash once cars drive through.
The plans were reviewed during the city’s regular Nov. 15 planning commission meeting. There, commissioners reviewed the plans after they were first reviewed during a previous exploratory meeting. Some changes include some site landscaping features,
“It sounded like some additional screening down south that wasn’t added that may have been requested,” said Kyle Rentmore of Columbus, Ohio-based Mannik Smith Group. “We can certainly fill in additional shrubs between these mature trees as well.”
Some commissioners raised the issue of the number of surrounding car washes in the area. While there are none nearby in Livonia, two are located within a radius of less than a mile and a half: Zax Car Wash at Eight Mile and Gill in Farmington Hills; and Colonial Car Wash on Nine Mile west of Farmington Road in Farmington. Representatives said they did the research and believe the car wash will benefit the surrounding community.
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In addition, the question of parking lot lighting was raised. There were concerns that the lighting of the areas around the car vacuum cleaners would be extremely bright and could affect passers-by.
“It doesn’t have to look like daylight driving down Farmington Road here for a car wash to light up the whole world out there, I think,” Commissioner Sam Caramagno said.
The commission voted to recommend approval of the plans during its meeting. They now go to the city council for review and a final decision.
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Contact reporter David Veselenak at dveselenak@hometownlife.com or 734-678-6728. Follow him on Twitter @davidveselenak.