Traffic moves through the intersection of Joyce Boulevard and Old Missouri Road in north Fayetteville on Dec. 30, 2021. The owners of a statewide car wash company hope to build a new facility at the northwest corner of the intersection.
Photo: Todd Gill, Fayetteville Flyer
FAYETTEVILLE — The north part of town could soon have a new car wash option.
Planning Commission members on Monday will consider a conditional use permit to allow Splash Car Wash to construct a new facility at the northwest corner of Joyce Boulevard and Old Missouri Road.
The 2-acre property is currently undeveloped, and sits just southeast of The Park apartment complex. The site is zoned Community Services, which does allow car wash businesses, but only with a conditional use permit.
City planners originally recommended denial of the permit, but recently changed their recommendation after the applicant received a variance from the Board of Adjustments. The board found that although the facility won’t be built within the required build-to zone, the applicant has attempted to meet the spirit and intent of the Community Services district by adding sidewalks and other pedestrian-oriented facilities within the build-to zone.
Splash Car Wash rendering / City of Fayetteville
Gretchen Harrison, a planner for the city, last week told commissioners an updated site plan shows a sidewalk with a fountain and gazebo, as well as a sidewalk path through the property that connects to the nearby apartment complex.
The current plan shows two curb cuts for entering and exiting the car wash – one on Joyce and another on Old Missouri. Staff said the proposed entrance on Joyce might not be a safe location for entering and exiting since there were seven accidents documented at the location between 2015 and 2018. The applicant expects about 600 daily customers at the new facility, according to a submitted application.
If the owners want a curb cut on Joyce, a Planning Commission variance would be needed at the time of development review, according to a staff memo.
Splash Car Wash conceptual site plan / City of Fayetteville
The plans also show two buildings – one for washing and another for detailing – along with 11 employee parking spaces and 13 vacuum stalls.
If approved, the 13,000-square-foot car wash would be allowed to operate between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily.
Splash currently operates 12 car washes across Arkansas, and has plans for at least nine more locations this year.
The commission will discuss the permit at the group’s next regular meeting on Jan. 10.
