MAC Meeting: Car Wash Proposal Doused
Community and business advocates threw a bucket of cold water on a plan to convert Castro Valley Lumber into a car wash, according to a proposal heard at the February 13 Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) meeting.
The proposal would see the lumberyard and surrounding buildings demolished on the 1.3-acre lot and a car wash constructed at 2495 Castro Valley Boulevard, on the southeast corner of Norbridge Avenue.
The “Splash Brothers Carwash” would be a self-service facility with three pay lanes for cars. The business would have between three and eight employees and proposed operating hours of 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. seven days a week.
Several speakers questioned the value of having a car wash in such a prominent spot on the Boulevard. Others said there is no need for another car wash, as there are several in the area and two within four blocks of the new proposed car wash.
Todd Anglin, Chairman of the Board of the Castro Valley/ Eden Area Chamber of Commerce, said he supports the business, but the location is not ideal.
“We’ve heard concern from our board and our members,” said Anglin. “I like the car wash. I think it’s great, but we really need something that attracts businesses and people into this entry point into the city, especially as Norbridge Avenue is updated.”
In a letter to the Alameda County Planning Department, the Chamber said it is concerned about “considerable congestion” at that intersection, especially for ambulances. They also said a drive-through car wash might back up traffic onto the streets as it does at the Quick Quack car wash on A Street in Hayward and San Lorenzo.
The letter also noted that the Castro Valley Downtown Specific Plan is currently under revision and that the location is highly likely to be rezoned to encourage appropriate development.
The county planning staff emphasized that the proposed project was very early, and no votes or decisions had been made.
If the developer chooses to proceed with the projects, they will need to apply for a site development review as the next step.
In 2021, a Chick-fil-A restaurant was proposed at the site, but concerns were raised about long drive-thru lines and the addition of another fast-food spot on the Boulevard.
In other news, the MAC delayed hearing an appeal on an application by the Valley Convenient Mini Mart at 5285 Crow Canyon Road to add distilled spirits to its shore shelves. The store recently filed a conditional use permit to change its alcohol license type from Type 20 (beer and wine) to Type 21 to allow liquor sales like vodka, gin, and tequila. The item was not properly noticed, so it was continued to a future meeting.