Car wash planned for long vacant Westland corner along Ford Road

One of the most prominent vacant pieces of property along busy Ford Road in Westland could finally see some development.

The city's planning commission reviewed and recommended approval of both a preliminary and final site plan for a new car wash to locate on the southwest corner of Newburgh and Ford roads during its virtual meeting held April 6. 

The plan calls for a new car wash constructed on the corner, along with a retail building on the western portion of the property. Mohamed Ayoub, the city's planning director, said the proposed structure, which will be a Tommy's Car Wash, would occupy about 5,200 square feet and have 18 parking spaces dedicated to vacuums.

The additional retail building to the west of the car wash is still being worked on and was not reviewed by the commission during that meeting.

"That is a future development and is not part of the immediate car wash development," he said. "It will happen at a later time and they might need further approvals for that."

The development is a different one that was originally envisioned for the site several years ago. The original planned unit development — approved in 2017 — called for multiple buildings on the site, including a medical building, a restaurant and another development for business. 

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Some of the buildings on the site have been removed and that plan never came to fruition.

"Obviously, it's been demolished and does not exist today," Ayoub said. "None of that happened, which brings us to today and this proposed car wash."

The other part of the development, the Regency of Westland nursing facility to the south, opened in late 2019. 

There was no word on when construction could begin if the project receives all the proper approvals. 

The approval came with little conversation among the planning commissioners, save for Commissioner David Rappaport, who said he felt neutral on the plans. He said a previous planning commission discussed how the site would essentially serve as a focal point for travelers entering Westland from Canton Township.

"There was a significant conversation about this being one of the gateways to the City of Westland," he said. "We were interested in maintaining the appearance of what was going to go into this particular ... PUD as it would speak to the nature or what people could expect to see as they came into Westland.

"I don't have strong feelings one way or another for whether this proposal adequately reflects the character of Westland. I will say it reflects much better than an empty lot."

With the recommended approvals, the plans now head to the city council for its review and final determination.

Contact reporter David Veselenak at dveselenak@hometownlife.com or 734-678-6728. Follow him on Twitter @davidveselenak.