Citizen Participation Final Report

To: 
Tina Lavelle, Planner 
City of Glendale 
From: 
Christopher D. Norstrom, Sr. Project Manager 
Cawley Architects 
Subject: 
Superstar Car Wash 
5810 W. Thunderbird Road, Glendale, AZ 
Date: 
November 30, 2020 
 
Public Involvement Plan for  
SR#20-0190 Conditional Use Permit Application 
 
Narrative 
 
Cawley Architects, Inc. is requesting a Conditional Use Permit approval for the 
proposed new +/4,410 S.F. ‘Super Star Express Car Wash’ at the Northwest corner of 
Thunderbird Road and 57th Drive.  An express wash is basically a self-service operation 
with automated pay stations. The wash tunnel is enclosed, and customers have the 
option to ride in the vehicle during the wash process. Exterior drying and interior 
vacuuming is typically done by the customer. During peak times, the facility can be 
operated with 2-3 people. 
The proposed site is approximately 37,445 S.F. (+/-0.86 acres). The APN for the site 
is 200-74-707.This site is zoned C-2 General Commercial to which allows a car wash as 
a Conditional Use Permit – “Convenience Use” as described in City of Glendale 
Zoning Ordinance Section 5.754. In addition to the CUP, we are requesting a DPR 
approval. 
 
Notification 
 
Please refer to attached notification letter, as well as the notification area map, and list of 
property owners, and registered Neighborhood and Home Owners Association 
 
Given the surrounding businesses and their use, we do not view a car wash use as factor or 
concern. 
 
As significant changes occur, it is our plan to notify, by letter, the City of Glendale and the same 
property owners, and registered Neighborhood and Home Owners Associations per our 
previous mailing list. The letter will state specific changes. 
 
 
 
CUP20-13, DR20-65
Superstar Carwash Conditional Use and Design Review
12/28/2020

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C.P.P. Schedule 
 
CPP to be submitted by December 2nd, 2020.  
CPP implementation January 4th 2021.  
The neighborhood meeting notification letters sent no later than January 4, 2021 
The neighborhood meeting would have to take place no later than January 24th. (Neighborhood 
meeting to occur 16 days after sign posting and neighborhood notifications have been sent.) 
The CUP hearing date will be determined by city of Glendale, in the coming weeks. (No less 
than 30 days after Neighborhood Meeting has occurred – March 4th,2021) 
Final CUP submittal documents on January 4,,2021  
 
 
 
 
CUP20-13, DR20-65
Superstar Carwash Conditional Use and Design Review
12/28/2020

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Christopher D. Norstrom 
730 N. 52nd St. #203 
Phoenix, AZ 85008 
chrisn@cawleyarchitects.com 
 
Subject: Conditional Use Permit Request for Superstar Car Wash at 5810 W. Thunderbird Road. SR#20-0190 
Dear Neighbor: 
This letter is to inform you that Cawley Architects, Inc. is requesting a Conditional Use Permit review from 
the City of Glendale. The property is located at 5810 West Thunderbird Road in the Sahuaro District. 
The proposed new +/4,410 S.F. ‘Super Star Express Car Wash’ is located at the Northwest corner of 
Thunderbird Road and 57th Drive.  An express wash is basically a self-service operation with automated 
pay stations. The wash tunnel is enclosed, and customers have the option to ride in the vehicle during the 
wash process. Exterior drying and interior vacuuming is typically done by the customer. During peak times, 
the facility can be operated with 2-3 people. 
The proposed site is approximately 37,445 S.F. (+/-0.86 acres). The APN for the site is 200-74-707.This site is 
zoned C-2 General Commercial to which allows a car wash as a Conditional Use Permit – “Convenience 
Use” as described in City of Glendale Zoning Ordinance Section 5.754. In addition to the CUP, we are 
requesting a DPR approval. 
I have included a site plan with this letter for your review. A neighborhood meeting will take place 
(January 24th, 2021, 6:00p,, location: TBD). Comments and questions will be accepted at this time. If you 
are unable to attend, please write, email to call me at the contact information above. You may also 
contact Tina Lavelle, Planner with the City of Glendale at (623)930-2553. 
 
Sincerely, 
 
Christopher D. Norstrom 
Encl: Site Plan, Aerial 
CUP20-13, DR20-65
Superstar Carwash Conditional Use and Design Review
12/28/2020

INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

To: 
Planning and Development Services 
Department 
City of Glendale, Arizona 
From: 
Paul Devers 
Subject: 
Project Narrative  
Administrative Design Review 
Conditional Use Permit 
Super Star Express Carwash  
5810 W. Thunderbird Road  
Glendale, AZ 85306 
Date: 
December 2, 2020 
 
PROJECT NARRATIVE 
 
Cawley Architects, Inc. is requesting approvals to build a new, freestanding, self-serve 
carwash. The proposed new +/4,140 S.F. ‘Super Star Express Car Wash’ is to be located 
at the Northwest corner of Thunderbird Road and 57th Drive. The project will require a 
Conditional Use Permit (CUP) and a hearing before the City of Glendale Planning 
Commission. An Administrative Design Review is required and will be concurrently 
reviewed; however, the design review will not be approved prior to final Planning 
Commission Approval of the CUP. 
 
Project Description: 
An express car wash is basically a self-service operation with automated pay stations. 
The wash tunnel is enclosed, and customers have the option to ride in the vehicle 
during the wash process. Exterior drying and interior vacuuming is typically done by 
the customer. During peak times, the facility can be operated with 2-3 people. 
 
Site Description: 
The proposed site is approximately 37,445 S.F. (+/-0.86 acres). The APN for the site is 200-
74-707. The site was a Safeway gas station that has been demolished. The existing 
driveways along Thunderbird Road and 57th Avenue will remain. This project will 
provide complete site and building improvements.  
 
Zoning, Use and Conformance: 
This site is zoned C-2 General Commercial to which allows a car wash as a Conditional 
Use Permit – “Convenience Use” as described in City of Glendale Zoning Ordinance 
Section 5.754. The General Plan LU Designation is: PC (Planned Commercial) 
CUP20-13, DR20-65
Superstar Carwash Conditional Use and Design Review
12/28/2020

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Conditional Use Permit: 
Proposed Use: A carwash is considered a convenience use as described in Section 
2.300 of the City of Glendale Municipal Code. Per Sec. 5.754J, of the zoning 
ordinance, convenience uses are subject to a conditional use permit (CUP) 
entitlement process. 
 
The following findings will be evaluated by staff and the Planning Commission. All 
five findings need to be met for conditional use approval.  
 
Q.1. Is the proposed use 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. 
 
Response: The General Plan LU Designation is: PC (Planned Commercial). The 
Planned Commercial designation provides for commercial retail 
development that is planned, constructed and operated as a single entity. 
Planned Commercial projects require a master development plan to show 
the relationship between buildings, driveways and internal circulation, 
pedestrian circulation, gathering areas, parking and landscaped area.  
 
The site, for the proposed car wash, is located in an existing established 
shopping center that has been built out. There are multiple commercial uses 
including a grocery store, dining venues and service uses. The car wash site is 
being repurposed and the exisitng fuel station is no longer in business. The car 
wash site design will utilize the existing driveways and traffic circulation. The new 
building location is consistent with the existing relationships between the other 
existing buildings. 
Q.2. The proposed use will not be detrimental to the health, safety or general 
welfare of persons residing or working in 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. 
 
Response: Historically speaking, this request is compatible as there was a 
previous use for a Safeway gas station which received conditional use approval 
(ZU-00-12) for ten fueling stations under a canopy. The new car wash facility will 
utilize the most current state of the art equipment all of which is totally indoors 
to reduce noise or vibration. The facility does not generate smoke, odor, or dust. 
The facility will operate from 7 am to 8 pm seven days a week. Which is 
compatible with the surrounding commercial uses. 
 
Q.3. The proposed site is adequate in size and shape to accommodate the 
intended use and that all requirements for the zone district, including sidewalks, 
landscaping and buffer yards are met. 
 
CUP20-13, DR20-65
Superstar Carwash Conditional Use and Design Review
12/28/2020

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Response: The car wash operator has multiple facilities in the valley 
including locations in Glendale. The site layout and internal circulation are 
the result of past experiences, recommendations from the equipment 
manufacturer and industry standards. Each site is unique and the building 
size and number of vacuum stalls are dependent on the site area and 
boundary configurations. This particular site is adequate for the number of 
vacuum bays and the length of the car wash tunnel. Sidewalks, landscaping 
and buffer yards are designed to conform with the zoning regulations. 
 
Q.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. 
Response: The primary access to the site is from a major throughfare, West 
Thunderbird Road, with secondary access from 57th Drive. There is a left turn 
signal from Thunderbird Road to 57th Drive along with a deceleration lane 
from Thunderbird Dive with a right turn to the immediate west of the site.  A 
preliminary site plan was submitted to the City for a Pre-Application Review 
and the comments were generally in conformance with ordinance 
requirements. However, there were issues with the internal traffic circulation 
and access points into the car wash site. As a result, the site plan was 
modified to alleviate the concerns of the city transportation engineer.  
Q.5. That adequate conditions or stipulations have been incorporated into the 
approval of the conditional use permit to ensure that any anticipated detrimental 
effects may be mitigated. 
Vehicular Access and Parking: 
The project will utilize the existing common shared access driveways on both the west 
and east side of the property that is accessed from Thunderbird Road for vehicular 
traffic into the site.  The queuing and vacuum bay access is along the north property 
line. 
 
Twenty-eight (28) covered vacuum bays are provided to meet both ordinance and 
operational requirements. Employee parking will be allowed in vacuum bay stalls. The 
Fire Truck and Refuse maneuvering and access are provided per City of Glendale 
development standards.  
 
Landscape, R.O.W. and Offsite Improvements, Easements: 
The site is designed to utilize the existing shared drive access points and circulation 
within the overall development. All R.O.W. dedications and offsite improvements are 
existing no additional dedications are proposed. 
 
CUP20-13, DR20-65
Superstar Carwash Conditional Use and Design Review
12/28/2020

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Architecture and Building Design: 
The design of the project is contemporary, rich in materials and colors, adding visual 
interest to the surrounding buildings. The exterior elevations will be composed of 
concrete masonry units of alternating colors with overlapping horizontal planes and 
varying parapet heights.  Corrugated metal planes provide additional color and 
texture.  The car wash windows are articulated with flat metal awnings to provide 
additional interest and details. 
 
The building is intentionally articulated both in plan and at the parapet to form 
rectangular wall planes of varied colors. 
 
The main portion of the building will have a flat roof, while the wash bay will be 
covered with a shade material spanning between the wash bay walls. The vacuum 
bays and pay stations will be covered with pre-engineered steel canopy frames with 
a fabric sunshade.  
 
Sincerely, 
 
 
Paul Devers 
Principal Architect 
Cawley Architects, Inc.  
CUP20-13, DR20-65
Superstar Carwash Conditional Use and Design Review
12/28/2020

Received 2.2.2021