COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Whereas many companies have struggled and even closed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, one career that appears to be thriving is the automotive wash.
Up to now few years, a number of new automotive washes have opened on the web site of former eating places, with extra on the way in which — creating jobs, repurposing vacant buildings and producing further tax income for town.
Plainly town already has loads of them; so why do they preserve coming? And are there too many?
Metropolis resident Luis Cisneros solutions the latter query.
“Sure, we’ve got too many and it is getting worse.,” he mentioned. “I can drive 5 miles and hit 4 to 5 automotive washes. They usually’re all completely different corporations. So sure, there’s a drawback in Colorado Springs.”
On Wednesday, Cisneros was on the metropolis Planning Fee to oppose a request from a Denver automotive wash proprietor to broaden into Colorado Springs.
Dennis Dreeszen based Autowash ten years in the past and watched his firm develop into 24 automotive washes within the metro Denver.
His plan to open not less than six in Colorado Springs handed its first step Wednesday when, after some dialogue professional and con amongst commissioners, his request to construct a automotive wash — with a canine wash included — on the intersection of Peterson Street and Pony Tracks Drive on town’s east aspect was authorised.
Dreeszen mentioned that his model of brushless automotive washes stands out from his rivals, and is exclusive for mixing in with neighborhoods as an alternative of constructing them on main streets and roads.
But some commissioners expressed concern that the automotive wash will nonetheless be too noisy and entice an excessive amount of visitors — although he insisted that would not be the case, and agreed to open an hour later and shut an hour sooner than he needed.
Dreeszen was stunned on the opposition as a result of the automotive wash could be subsequent to a comfort retailer and gasoline station.
Cizneros is without doubt one of the neighbors.
“It is too near the neighborhood,” he mentioned. “I am nervous about noise, the hours, the sorts of individuals it attracts. There is a matter already with the 24-hour gasoline station that is there — noise complaints, visitors complaints.”
Commissioner Scott Hente mentioned that he would not consider town has too many automotive washes.
“I am unsure that governments needs to be within the enterprise of telling companies, what number of they’ll have,” he mentioned. “Are we going to restrict the variety of McDonald’s we are able to have, Or King Soopers? That is a enterprise resolution that they make.”
Hente added that water utilization is all the time a consideration when contemplating new automotive washes.
“Whether or not we take a look at massive developments or a person enterprise, do we’ve got the water to help them?” he mentioned. “That is all the time hanging on the market. However I feel the companies try to be an increasing number of prudent in how they recycle the water and the way they use the water.”
Now, to the query of why so many automotive washes are opening up within the metropolis; Dreeszen can communicate just for himself.
“It is shopper demand,” he defined. “We had loads of clients in Denver who’ve moved to Colorado Springs and would like to see us down right here. We’re in contact with loads of the automotive communities round city, and we have been getting requested to come back to the Springs.”
Talking extra typically, Dreeszen mentioned that even with all the automotive washes presently working on the town, they’ll wash solely a small share of autos within the metropolis due to continued development and so many individuals proudly owning vehicles.
“Until extra folks eliminate their autos, there’ll all the time be a necessity for automotive washes,” he mentioned.
Like them or hate them, it is onerous to argue with the advantages automotive washes provide — filling empty tons, repurposing vacant buildings, creating jobs advert producing further tax income.
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Car wash crush: Why so many in Colorado Springs, and are there too many?
