LA PALMA : Council Rescinds Permit for Carwash

The “Kingdom of the Carwashes” is crumbling.

Reversing a decision it made this summer, the City Council unanimously voted Tuesday night to deny a permit for a third automatic carwash in this 1.8-square-mile city.

The council cited traffic congestion as the chief reason for agreeing with Gordon Cook, owner of the city’s only operating carwash at 5021 La Palma Ave., in opposing the proposed carwash.

Cook argued that Paul Son’s proposed carwash and mini-market at 8511 Moody St. would cause traffic accidents. Cars would “stack up” on Moody Street waiting to get into the business’s tiny parking lot, Cook said.

“It’s trying to put too much on too small a lot,” he said.

After the council’s 3-2 approval of Son’s project in August, detractors began referring to the city as the “Kingdom of the Carwashes.”

In September, 1992, the council approved plans for a second carwash--which has yet to be built--on the northwest corner of Crescent Avenue and Walker Street. The sites for the three carwashes are within half a mile of each other.

At Tuesday night’s hearing, more than a dozen people spoke against the third carwash.

“I don’t feel we need another white elephant on the corner,” Kathy Miller told the council. “I don’t think I want my city known as the carwash capital of Orange County.”

Michele Vaughn, who lives in a condominium complex near the proposed carwash site, said the project would cause more traffic accidents at an already busy intersection.

“I know we need the tax dollars, but we also need safety,” Vaughn said.

The public hearing became particularly heated when former Mayor Richard Polis said council members who supported the carwash would be voted out in the next election.

After nearly three hours of testimony, council members Wallace D. (Wally) Linn, David Lim and Larry A. Herman reversed the votes they cast in August.

“Notwithstanding the insults, innuendoes and threats, I tend to agree with my colleagues about this,” Linn said moments before casting his vote.

After the vote, Son said he was not sure whether he would modify his proposal to satisfy council concerns. Under city law, he could resubmit his plans in six months, officials said.

“We have to think about this first and see what to do later,” Son said. He declined further comment.