Car wash debate continues

By DAVID HULSE

ELDRED, NY — The Town of Highland’s hamlets are zoned “hamlet-commercial” and the two words collided at an August 6 public hearing for a proposed automatic car wash.

Property owner Alan Hochhauser’s plan for a three-bay automatic car wash on the corner of the Mail Road and County Road 21 in Barryville has prompted a public debate in the mail and on local bulletin boards since its introduction in June. Nearby homeowners have opposed it, while others want the new convenience and new growth.

Last Wednesday it came before the town planning board, which is considering an application to allow the project as a special permitted use. More than 70 people packed the hall.

Attorney Michael Frey, representing Hochhauser, began by denying any part in a flyer which argued that residents “should not let part-time [residents] and newcomers tell us what to do.”

“We want a welcoming community. That was not our flyer,” Frey said.

Arguing the case for the car wash, Frey said the car wash was being defined as an auto repair business for zoning purposes. He said that permitted uses for the property, those needing no planning board oversight, include a tavern, a mobile home or a 79-foot-tall antenna.

Frey said environmental groups, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Sierra Club, support the water recirculating type of car wash Hochhauser proposes as a means to reduce non-point pollution of surface waters.

Water for the business would be drawn from an existing well on Hochhauser’s adjoining property.

Frey said noise from a commercial vacuum cleaner is rated at 55 decibels at 60 feet, less than conversational speech at a distance of one-foot.

“Passing traffic makes much more noise,” he said.

The business anticipates 36 cars daily during 24-hour operations, an increase of four percent in traffic on the county road. In addition to several homes, nearby neighbors would include two gas stations, an auto repair shop, and a telephone company switching building.

The building would be designed with a peaked roof and dormers to replicate neighboring residential architecture.

Twenty people testified: eleven opposed or had concerns and nine were in favor. Planning Board Chair Charles Gutekunst said he had received 43 form letters opposed to the project and 10 in favor. Judging from the applause at the hearing, most of those attending favored the project.

Adjoining neighbor Jeff Spitz said the car wash would degrade the center of town and take away from its rural character. He quoted from the town’s 2001 Comprehensive Plan that listed the preservation and extension of peace and tranquillity as goals. He said the area has potential for re-gentrification and development, but that the car wash was a poor incentive.

“I would not have purchased my home if it was there already,” he said.

Neighbor Gary Patrowicz was skeptical of the car count.

“Why bother for 36 cars a day. How many will come from [nearby] Route 97?”

Patricia McDonald, owner of neighboring apartment house, said she already has difficulty finding tenants. She was also worried about the impact on her well.

Adjoining property owner Peter Bizjac was also concerned about his well and wondered if the car wash lighting would “light up my house” all night.

On the other hand, Steven Glasser said he had bought his home outside the hamlets when he moved to Highland because he had not wanted a bar next door.

Car dealer Steve Barnes said he spends $1,500 annually to wash cars and drives 20 miles to do it.

“I go to Narrowsburg and when I do I spend money there,” he said.

Another resident was concerned about the environment.

“All those cars in driveways being washed now. Where are all those chemicals going?” she asked.

The planning board has 62 days to make a decision. Gutekunst said the board would consider the testimony and possibly come up with a decision in September.