Council approves conditional permit for car wash facility

The Clovis City Council approved a plan to allow a drive-thru car wash on this property at Shaw and Fowler avenues. DANIEL LEON/CLOVIS ROUNDUP

The Clovis City Council considered items regarding 1.2 acres of space located at the northeast corner of Shaw and Fowler avenues. At its meeting on Monday, Dec. 17, the council approved a request to amend the general plan designation from office to general commercial use, allowing a drive-thru car wash facility on the property.

Clovis Deputy City Planner Orlando Ramirez said that area allows for office-related uses such as medical facilities, professional offices and financial institutions, but the applicant came in with a request to modify the land use to allow for a car wash facility.

“The applicant came in with a plan to allow for a car wash facility. To do so, you have to rezone the property to a community commercial zone district, even then it’s subject to a conditional use permit,” Ramirez said.

The council discussed some possible issues with the car wash facility, including traffic, but Ramirez said he doesn’t expect any conflicts.

“A pretty comprehensive traffic study was done by traffic engineers,” Ramirez said. “It’s pretty extensive. It covers peak and non-peak hours.”

He added that the applicant will review the council’s discussion and resolve any additional challenges.

“Now that we have the approval, the applicant has the opportunity to address any issues that might have been presented tonight,” Ramirez said.

Although other projects haven’t been successful recently, Ramirez said he is feeling optimistic about this one.

“We had a lot of projects in the past,” he said. “None of them have been successful to come to fruition, so this one here is an opportunity to get that started.”

Ramirez said the council made the favorable decision to the project, understanding Shaw Avenue is undergoing changing and seeing the benefits to the community.

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