After several months of discussions, the Peoria City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve development of a new car wash at Glen and University.Club Car Wash is buying the GlenHaven Shopping Center and a house immediately to the north. The company will build the car wash on the 2.2 acres.
Third District councilman Tim Riggenbach said the city had no reason to deny the special use request.
"This car wash use will be less intrusive on the traffic counts, less intrusive on the neighborhood than some of the quote 'permitted uses,' like a gas station or a fast food restaurant," he said.
The Joseph family, which has owned the property for nearly 70 years, said it's time to move on.
"That property has become a lot for our property to maintain, and it is simply too much," Joseph said. "Fortunately, Club Car Wash has presented an opportunity to help us bring a successful end to the Joseph family time on the corner and present a new future for the property."
Joseph said it the sale has an extra layer of personal meaning for her. She grew up in the house north of GlenHaven, which will also be demolished to make way for the car wash.
Seth Uphoff, the Joseph family's attorney, said both the city and the Josephs have worked with the remaining GlenHaven tenants to help them relocate. Only Lee's Chinese Garden is closing permanently, as the owners have decided to retire rather than reopen in a new location.
"The tenants are excited about getting out and expanding their businesses and continuing to invest in Peoria," Uphoff said. "They're building equity, they're investing their dollars. And they're not just being left out in the street. They're going to hit the ground running."
Community Development Director Ross Black said both city staff and the Planning and Zoning Commission determined a car wash is an appropriate use of the property. Club Car Wash said in similar locations, average daily usage is around 542 cars a day.
City reallocates unused CDBG funding for utility assistance
In another matter, the council decided to reallocate $300,000 in unused Community Development Block Grant funds to help city renters and homeowners falling behind on their utility bills.
This comes as the COVID-19 moratorium on utility shutoffs for nonpayment comes to an end.
"Effectively, what it will do is provide up to $5,000 per household," said Community Development Director Ross Black. "Certainly for power bills and for water bills. Perhaps, as the manager indicated, for sewer bills, also."
He estimated between 100 and 120 renters and homeowners will benefit from the program.
Funds will be distributed through a lottery. The council voted unanimously to reallocate the money for utility assistance.
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