LA PALMA : Council Approval Given 3rd Carwash

Some residents of La Palma are saying that the “City of Vision” needs to have its eyes checked.

For nearly 30 years, the town of just 1.8 square miles had one automatic carwash. Now it may soon have three.

Last week the City Council approved plans for the third establishment, prompting detractors to dub the town with the visionary motto as “The Kingdom of the Carwashes.” Neighbors were angered, the owner of the second carwash left the council meeting in disgust, and Mayor Eva G. Miner warned of possible political consequences.

The council’s 3-2 vote authorizes Paul Son to tear down his dairy market at the southwest corner of Crescent Avenue and Moody Street and build a carwash and convenience store.

“Remember this (vote) at election time,” said Miner, who along with Councilman Duane F. Schuster tried to block approval of the carwash.

About the only thing everybody seemed to agree on is that La Palma, a city with roughly 5,000 households--the third smallest population in the county--cannot financially support three carwashes, even when factoring in cars from neighboring cities. Not only that, the three carwashes will be within a half-mile radius of each other, which is expected to make competition all the more fierce.

Even Councilman Wallace D. Linn, who voted for Son’s project, concedes it is unlikely that all three businesses can succeed. But Linn said the marketplace, not government, should decide who prospers and who doesn’t.

“It’s not our responsibility to interfere with free enterprise and free competition so long as it meets city guidelines,” he said. “We must allow all to compete.”

According to a consultant, carwash operators need to clean 250 to 300 cars a day to stay in business. The La Palma Car Wash averages 300 to 325 cars a day.

But Son maintains that he will need to wash only 100 cars a day to turn a profit, because the convenience store will also be generating income for his family-operated business.

Ahmad Cahla, who received approval for the city’s second carwash last September, declined to comment after the council vote. The San Pedro businessman, who later said his venture at the northwest corner of Crescent Avenue and Walker Street represents a $2-million investment, expects his carwash to be open next March.

Dr. Gordon Cook, owner of La Palma Car Wash on La Palma Avenue, the city’s first, vowed this week to appeal the council’s approval of the third carwash. The dentist from Newport Beach said the carwash would lack sufficient parking for employees and customers and would create “terrible” traffic congestion.

Some neighbors agree.

“We are extremely upset,” said Marilyn Byrne, who lives near the site of the third carwash. The project “is irresponsible, has inadequate space and parking and will create a dangerous traffic situation,” Byrne said.

If Cook files an appeal, the council will conduct a public hearing regarding the matter, according to City Manager Pamela Gibson. But the hearing probably wouldn’t occur until early September, she said.

Three carwashes in one town, however, will almost certainly result in a price break for consumers. Neither Son nor Cahla have established firm prices, but both are determined to be competitive with the $6.95 that Cook now charges for a basic wash.

“If they charge $2 to wash, I will charge $1.50,” Cahla vowed. “It’s business.”

Carwash Controversy Though only 1.8 miles in area, La Palma may soon have three carwashes.