75A - PH KARA GRANT APPEAL - Laserfiche WebLink

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A comparison of the existing gas station car wash located on the Project site to the proposed massive express car wash, which will span the length of property line of 301 N. Tustin Avenue, illustrates that the Car Wash Project and its significantly increased capacity will undoubtedly impact Speedie Wash as a direct threat in extremely close proximity. Attached as Exhibit C are photographs of the existing gas station car wash operated at the Project site, which is diminutive in size compared to the proposed Russell Fischer Car Wash Project. The Conklin's know first hand that adding an express car wash close by will hurt their business. For instance, Speedie Wash's suffered roughly an 8% drop in sales when a new express car wash, Rapids Express Car Wash, was built in the City of Orange on N. Tustin Street, approximately 4 miles from Speedie Wash. This negative impact on car wash businesses is not unique to Speedie Wash, but would apply to all car washes in the vicinity of the Russell Fischer Car Wash Project especially the existing 15 car washes located within a 3-mile radius of the Project. (See Exhibit B — articles discussing impact of new car washes within 3 miles of existing car washes). Accordingly, the Project will be detrimental to the business operation and success, and thus the general welfare, of Speedie Wash, as well as the numerous other car washes in the Project vicinity. Also noteworthy is the dental office that is adjacent to the Project. This business owner, a dentist, has expressed opposition because the Russell Fischer Car Wash Project is proposed to be built very close to her building and the vibrations will harm sensitive medical equipment, and the noise will harm her business operation. 3. The Proposed Car Wash Project Will Adversely Affect the Present Economic Stability and/or the Future Economic Development of Property in the .Surrounding Area. The current oversaturation of car washes in Santa Ana provide the City little economic benefit as there are minimal sales tax revenues associated with car wash operations. This fact greatly concerned the City of Escondido, who recently adopted a moratorium prohibiting new car wash uses in their city. (See, infra, Exhibit L, and the discussion in Section VI of this Appeal.) In comparison, numerous retail stores and a drive-thru restaurant, as currently approved for the Russell Fischer Retail/Restaurant Project, would generate substantial sales tax revenue for the City. Moreover, as explained below, continuing to permit the oversaturation of car washes in Santa Ana will result in failed businesses, and in turn vacant commercial properties that are difficult and expensive to redevelop because of potential contamination to the site and the infrastructure unique to car washes. The Russell Fischer Car Wash Project will adversely affect the economic stability of other car wash businesses. For instance, the Conklins project that each additional express or full service car wash, in this case, the proposed Russell Fischer Express Car Wash, will reduce Speedie Wash's revenue margin by 10-15%. This impact is not unique to Speedie Wash, but would foreseeably apply to most and potentially all car washes in an approximate 3-mile radius of the Project. With each new express wash reducing Speedie Wash's revenue by 10-15%, the impact of the proposed Russell Fischer Express 75A-18