Project Narrative

City of Glendale — Regular Meeting (2023-09-28)

View PDF Item 2 Meeting page

Extracted text (via pymupdf) 11632 characters
i 
Conditional Use Permit & Design Review Narrative 
 
 
 
for 
 
 
Super Star Car Wash 
 
 
 
S of the SWC of Olive Ave & 51st Ave  
 
 
by: 
 
 
Super Star Car Wash 
 
 
 
Case No.: ___________ 
 
Submitted:  July 10, 2023
City of Glendale Received
July 12, 2023
CUP23-19

i 
DEVELOPMENT TEAM 
 
Developer: 
 
 
 
 
Denali Midco 2, LLC 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1830 N. 95th Avenue, Suite 106 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Phoenix, Arizona 85037 
 
 
Architect:  
 
 
 
 
AO Architects  
 
 
 
 
 
 
144 N. Orange Street 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Orange Street 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Orange, CA 92866 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Phone: (714) 639-9860 
 
Engineer: 
 
 
 
 
Bowman Consulting 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1600 N. Desert Drive Ste 210 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tempe, Arizona 85281 
 
Traffic Engineer: 
 
 
 
Y2k Engineering 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1921 S Alma School Rd Ste 204 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mesa, Arizona 85024 
 
Zoning: 
 
 
 
 
Burch & Cracchiolo, P.A. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Attn: Brian Greathouse/Madison Leake 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1850 N. Central Ave., Suite 1700 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Phoenix, Arizona 85004 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Phone: (602) 234-9903

1
Super Star Car Wash 
I. INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW 
Super Star Car Wash (“Super Star”) seeks to develop this approximately 1.16-acre site (the 
“Site”) as an express car wash. The Site is proposed to contain an approximately 4,620 square foot 
wash building with a state-of-the-art and high-efficiency full-service express conveyor car wash 
tunnel system, 3 point-of-sale express pay stations, and 27 self-served vacuum stations. The site 
plan includes ample landscaping and setbacks, including a 25-foot building setback along 51st 
Avenue. This location is anticipated to be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and have approximately three 
employees on Site at any one time. This proposed use is compatible with the commercial character 
of the area and will make good use of an underutilized site.  
II. SITE, SURROUNDING AREA, AND EXISTING ZONING 
The Site is zoned General Commercial (C-2) and designated Planned Commercial (PC) on 
the General Plan. The intent of the C-2 Zoning District is to “accommodate either integrated or 
freestanding commercial uses and services. Uses serve both neighborhood scale as well as 
community level needs.” This proposal fits that intent by providing a commercial use that will 
serve the community’s needs in an appropriate location. Currently, a portion of the Site is being 
utilized as a parking lot and the remainder of the Site is undeveloped. To the north of the Site is a 
commercial center including a CVS, zoned C-2. Surrounding the Site on the south and west is a 
Walmart and associated parking lot zoned C-2. To the east (across 51st Avenue) there is a 
condominium community zoned R-4. This proposed car wash is appropriate for the area and 
existing designations. 
III.  CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT REQUEST 
On behalf of Super Star, we request a Conditional Use Permit for a Convenience Use. Per 
Section 5.754(J) of the Zoning Ordinance, a Conditional Use Permit is required for Convenience 
Uses. 2.300 defines a Convenience Use, in part, as “Car washes (self-services and/or automated).” 
A. 
CONFORMANCE WITH THE GENERAL PLAN 
The proposed Super Star location and these requests are supported by the General Plan. 
The Site is designated Planned Commercial on the General Plan. The Planned Commercial 
designation has the intent to “minimize development and land use conflicts, maintain appropriate 
transportation access and parking, ensure development where adequate municipal services are 
present, and provide community connectivity and convenience.” This proposed development, 
located in an appropriate commercial area will add a necessary service in a convenient location. 
Further, below is a summary of conformance to the City’s General Plan Land Use Goals and 
Policies:      
Policy GA‐1.3 “The City shall assign higher priorities to projects that foster City employment and 
revenue objectives.” 
Policy ED‐1.1 “The City should attract and retain a variety of industries that will provide 
employment opportunities for residents with a wide range of skill and educational levels.”   
 
The proposed location will be the 3rd Super Star in Glendale. The new Super Star represents a 
significant investment in the City and will increase sales tax revenue. Further, Super Star is an

2
economically stable corporation that provides valuable employment opportunities for community 
residents.  
 
Policy CRR‐3.2 “The City shall promote reuse and intensification of industrial and / or vacant 
commercial properties.” 
 
The Site is currently vacant and underutilized. This Super Star Car Wash makes good sense on this 
Site and will be a valuable asset to the area. 
 
B. 
MEETS AND EXCEEDS OBJECTIVE CRITERIA FOR USE PERMIT APPROVALS 
This proposed Super Star meets and exceeds the required findings for a Conditional Use Permit 
under the City’s Zoning Ordinance.  
1. That the proposed use is consistent with the policies, objectives, and land use map of the 
Glendale General Plan and the purpose of the zone district in which the site is located; 
As stated, the Site is zoned General Commercial and designated Planned Commercial on the 
General Plan. Both designations support this commercial use. Further, as described above, this 
proposed development is consistent with the goals and policies of the General Plan. 
2. That the proposed use will not be materially detrimental to the health, safety or general 
welfare of persons residing or working within the neighborhood of the proposed use, or have an 
adverse effect on the property, adjacent properties, the surrounding neighborhood or the city 
when consideration is given to the character and size of the use and hours of operation; 
The use is compatible with and will be an asset to the surrounding commercial and residential 
uses. The hours of operation (7am-7pm) are more limited than the neighboring Walmart and 
CVS Pharmacy. Regarding noise, several considerations have been made as to not negatively 
impact the residential uses to the east. For example, the wash tunnel has been oriented 
north/south, so that neither the entry nor exit point faces the residential uses. Additionally, all 
noise-producing equipment will be located within an enclosed building. Per the noise study 
conducted by MD Acoustics, the proposed car wash will increase existing ambient noise levels 
by 0 to 3 decibels. A 3-decibel change in noise level is classified as “just perceptible.”

3
 
Further, the nearest home is 125+ feet away (across 51st Avenue) and separated from the wash 
tunnel by 51st Avenue, a landscape area in the right-of-way, and a 25-foot building setback.  
Regarding traffic, this proposed development will not generate a significant number of trips. The 
proposed Super Star is anticipated to generate a total of 100 weekday PM peak hour trips 
(entering and exiting) and 150 Saturday Peak hour trips (entering and exiting). Most trips to car 
washes are “pass by” in nature, meaning that they are trips already in place on the surrounding 
roadway network that will convert from a through movement to a turning movement into and 
out of the Site. Therefore, the trips generated by this proposed use are not anticipated to equate 
to the total net trips added to the roadway as a result of the proposed development.  
Regarding water use, Super Star Car Wash is the leading car wash company in energy and water 
conservation. Super Star prides itself on using all LED lighting and the highest energy-efficient 
equipment available to the market. Super Star is also able to reuse 100% of its Reverse Osmosis 
Reject (ROR) water and 80% of its sewer discharge water. The International Car Wash Association 
defines an efficient car wash as using 40 – 50 gallons of domestic water per vehicle in comparison 
to an at-home car wash that uses an estimated 120 – 150 gallons per vehicle. Super Star can get to 
as low as 15 gallons of water per vehicle making it one of the most efficient car wash operators in 
the industry. 
This Super Star will be a quality development and not detrimental to persons residing in the area 
or have an adverse effect on the area. Rather, the proposed development will benefit the area by 
making good use of an underutilized site and providing services and jobs to the area.  
3. That the proposed site is adequate in size and shape to accommodate the intended use and 
that all requirements for the zone district, including but not limited to: setbacks, walls, 
landscaping and buffer yards are met; 
The vacant and underutilized Site is more than adequate in size and shape to accommodate the 
proposed use, as well as ample setbacks and landscaping, as demonstrated on the Site Plan. There 
is safe on-site circulation demonstrated on the Site Plan and the plan meets and exceeds all required 
development standards. 
 
4. That the proposed site has adequate access to public streets and highways to carry the type 
and quantity of traffic which may be generated by the subject use, and that on-site circulation is 
adequate to permit driveways, parking, and loading requirements in a manner which is safe and 
efficient.

4
As further described above, this proposed use will not generate a significant amount of trips. 
Further, the Site has convenient and safe access as well as on-site circulation. Super Star customers 
will have convenient access to enter and exit the site on 51st Avenue. Additionally, a traffic impact 
statement has been conducted and included with this submittal in order to ensure a proper 
transportation plan. 
5. That adequate conditions or stipulations have been incorporated into the approval of the 
conditional use permit to ensure that any anticipated detrimental effects can be mitigated. 
This proposed Super Star will not create adverse impacts. On the contrary, this proposed car wash 
will be a quality development that will be an asset to the area. We will work with City Staff to 
ensure any adequate conditions are incorporated into the approval of this CUP. 
IV.  DESIGN REVIEW REQUEST 
In accordance with section 3.600 of the Zoning Ordinance, we request Design Review 
approval. This high-quality proposed development has been carefully planned and is fitting with 
the surrounding area. This proposal meets the below purposes of Section 3.600: 
 
providing development consistent with the City’s Goal’s of high quality;  
ensur[ing] that development is compatible with the surrounding area; 
ensur[ing] that on-site and off-site circulation is safe for both motorists and 
pedestrians and 
ensur[ing[ that all necessary public utilities and services and provided in an 
efficient and aesthetic 
manner.  
 
 Elevations have been designed to create visual interest while being in harmony with the 
area. A variety of neutral colors have been used with the addition of a “cardinal red” color to create 
contrast. A variety of building heights, articulations, and details such as stone veneer and metal 
canopies have been utilized to break up building massing. The landscape theme incorporates 
various types of desert-themed trees, shrubs, and groundcovers to provide shade, screening, and 
enhance the look of the Site. 
 
V. CONCLUSION 
Approval of this CUP and DR request for Super Star Car Wash will allow for the 
development of a necessary service in an appropriate area. This proposal is supported both by the 
commercial zoning and the General Plan designation and goals and policies. Super Star Car Wash 
makes good land use sense on this Site, is compatible with the area, and will be aesthetically 
designed and landscaped. We request your approval.  
Super Star Car Wash