Vernon Hills to be part of Chicago-area expansion plan for Florida-based El Car Wash
A rapidly expanding Florida-based car wash chain plans to invest $8 million or more to acquire an open lot and build a facility in the Shoppes of Gregg’s Landing retail center in Vernon Hills.
El Car Wash, which has 110 locations and 600,000 members nationally, is actively pursuing new developments in the Chicago area. In mid-October, the company announced it had acquired Sparkle Express car wash locations in Chicago, Cicero, Elgin and Matteson as part of its brand launch here.
In Vernon Hills, the company has the green light from village leaders for a new facility in the busy center fronting Milwaukee Avenue and Gregg’s Parkway.
As planned, a 150-foot automated car wash tunnel and vacuums would be fully enclosed, minimizing impacts to adjacent properties, the company said in answer to how the plan would meet the standards for a special use.
High-efficiency blow dryers would dry vehicles before they exit, reducing on-site queuing and improving circulation, the company added.
The site is in the northeast corner of the center, south of Gregg’s Parkway, anchored by Mariano’s grocery and Lowe’s home improvement. Located directly west of a retention pond, the proposed site has been undeveloped for 15 years.
The company is seeking a special use to develop the site. In early May, it pitched the plan to the village board during a non-voting committee of the whole meeting.
During a public hearing last month, the advisory planning and zoning commission recommended approval of the special use, with several conditions involving utilities, landscaping and signage.
With those measures addressed, the company last week returned to the village board committee of the whole.
Village Trustee Michael Schenk said dozens of residents in the neighboring Gregg’s Landing subdivision opposed the plan. He also noted there were several car washes within a half-mile radius.
“How do you know this will be a successful site, given other competitors in the area?” he asked Gabe Schuchman, representing El Car Wash.
Schuchman said the company is employee-owned, hires within the community, pays well, and is run as a great retail business. As an example, he said there are many restaurants but not all offer the same service or experience.
So it is in the car wash industry, he said, adding the way El is run is “just different” than others. “They (employees) say it’s family and that’s with 1,600 associates companywide.”
Schenk also asked how the facility meets the special use standard of not affecting nearby properties.
“We’re saying we’re going to make an $8 (million) or $9 million dollar investment in this market on a pad (lot) that’s been vacant for 15 years,” Schuchman said.
“It gives credence to the pad next door,” he added. “So, if anything, we’re going to spur development.”
The lot immediately west of the car wash site, also has been undeveloped for 15 years.
The committee of the whole asked for additional landscaping screening for the queue leading up to the car wash tunnel entrance and directed staff to prepare an ordinance for final approval, which will be on Tuesday’s regular meeting agenda.
mzawislak@dailyherald.com