Skip to content

New Alberni car wash gets council's green light

Port Alberni residents may have the option of washing their car at a new car wash on Gertrude Street in 2014.

Port Alberni residents may have the option of washing their car at a new car wash on Gertrude Street in 2014.

Port Alberni city councillors approved a development permit at their Monday meeting that paved the way for the new facility.

The business, Port Posh Wash, will be located at the corner of Gertrude Street and Southgate Road (across from Dolce Vita), the former site of Payless Gas.

The facility, if it goes ahead, will consist of six wash bays — four self-serve and two automatic — and enough room on site for 12 waiting cars, city planner Scott Smith said.

The project will create jobs and add to the city’s tax base. Also, it helps the city meet its goal of sustainability by redeveloping a Brownfield site, a report noted.

The property is zoned CMX1, which encompasses using it as a car wash.

Although the site was formerly a gas station it has a Certificate of Compliance from the Ministry of Environment, a report to council noted.

Once in operation, vehicles will enter the facility from Southgate Road because it has less traffic, and then exit onto Gertrude Street.

Traffic could be an issue, Coun. Cindy Solda said, particularly the potential for illegal turns into the facility through the Gertrude Street exit. “There could be a lot of traffic violations there.”

The sidewalks at both the entrance and exit will require modifying, the $12,000 tab for which the developer is picking up, Smith said.

Coun. Hira Chopra questioned why the developer is paying for the work. “If the sidewalk is city property then why does the business have to pay?” he asked.

The work is triggered by the developer’s plans, therefore the developer has to pay, not the taxpayer, Smith said.

reporter@albernivalleynews.com

Twitter.com/AlberniNews