Whitewater Car Wash proposal advances after traffic concerns reviewed

After its proposal was deferred at the Feb. 4 Boone County Planning Commission meeting, Whitewater Car Wash has resubmitted it to the Zone Change committee for further evaluation.

Whitewater Car Wash, a Tomball, Texas-based car wash franchise, is expanding into Northern Kentucky. There are currently five locations in southwestern Ohio, with two planned for Boone County, according to the company’s website.

In December, Whitewater presented a plan before the planning commission to demolish the vacant Frisch’s Big Boy at 1731 Jones Circle in Burlington and replace it with a 4,375-square-foot car wash. The proposed car wash will include a 126-foot-long wash tunnel, three pay stations, and 21 free vacuum spaces. 

Whitewater car washes feature automated conveyors designed for quick service. During the wash, customers remain in their cars while the process is automated. The company primarily generates revenue from monthly memberships rather than one-off visits, as the business is subscription-based.

Zoning Administrator Michael Schwartz explained that the proposal was deferred at the Feb. 4 meeting due to traffic concerns, specifically regarding future work on KY-18, also known as Burlington Pike.

“Let me first just remind everybody that this committee, about a month ago, recommended approval with four conditions,” he said. “That went to the full planning commission on February the 4th, at which point questions came up about traffic, and with the applicant’s acceptance to continue this, it was deferred to this zone change committee meeting.”

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet intends to redesign KY-18 with its “super street” project. This plan is to restrict left turns at key intersections, allowing mostly right-in and right-out movements, while facilitating U-turns at specific median openings – commonly known as a “Michigan left.”

The project’s goal is to minimize conflict points, enhance safety, and ensure a more consistent flow of through-traffic along KY-18, while still allowing access to nearby businesses through adjusted circulation patterns.

A traffic study was subsequently conducted to assess the prospective car wash’s impact on KY-18, one of the most heavily trafficked roads in Boone County. 

At the public hearing in December, some residents expressed concerns that the car wash could negatively affect traffic. Furthermore, residents questioned the necessity of adding another car wash to the area, arguing that it would increase the number of car washes. They referenced Bailey’s Car Wash & Detailing, located across the street from the proposed site.

Erin McMachen, an engineer at Stonefield Engineering & Design, told the zone change committee that the traffic study concluded the car wash would not have ‘considerable impacts’ on KY-18’s traffic. However, she noted that the study was based on the existing roadway conditions of KY-18.

“The traffic study showed that existing conditions and growth projected 10 years out from the build of the car wash, and just based on the existing conditions of Burlington Pike, the car wash did not have any considerable impacts,” she said.

Moreover, McMachen said Whitewater is committed to building at the 1731 Jones Circle location, while being aware of the upcoming redesign of KY-18.

“You know, being off of Burlington Pike, they’re not on the main road, as they might prefer, but the amount of traffic that goes through the shopping center, they’ve done their due diligence on this site, and even with the restrictions, they don’t see a worry about getting the desired customer base and traffic volumes that they would hope,” she said.

Ultimately, the committee backed the proposal, advancing it for review by the full planning commission at the March 4 meeting.