A new kind of business for Millstone thruway
Car wash would be first in town if approved
BY JANE MEGGITT
Staff Writer

MILLSTONE - Two longtime residents are looking to open a car wash in town.

The township's Zoning Board of Adjustment heard an initial presentation at its June 27 meeting for an application to put a car wash, service area and warehouse on Route 537. The hearing will continue at the board's July 25 meeting.

Attorney Kenneth Pape is representing the applicant, 537 ABR, LLC, of which residents Brandon and Rogan O'Donnell are the principals. The O'Donnells are the contract purchasers of a 4.02-acre at 490 Monmouth Road/Route 537, which is near the intersection with Route 571.

Pape said the property has no environmental constraints and his clients want to construct a two-story, 9,820-square-foot building there. The structure would house a car wash and lube facility. The application will require a use variance, since car washes are not a permitted use in Millstone.

Pape noted that land directly across the street from the site in Jackson Township, Ocean County, will be developed into a commercial center at Woodbury Lane. According to Pape, plans for the center include a traffic signal and turning lanes.

Pape said his client could enter into a developer's agreement with those developing the commercial center and could create a center turning lane into the car wash site. Otherwise, access to the site would be provided by a two-way driveway along the northern property line. The site also has a one-way right-turn exit at the southwest corner.

The applicant's engineer, Michael Geller, said the acreage currently has two residential dwellings and some accessory sheds and garages on it.

The property is located in the highway commercial zone and measures 206 feet wide and 800 feet deep. The site is deficient in the 250 feet of frontage required for the development, according to Geller.

Geller noted that the area does not have a seasonal high water table that would preclude the use of a septic system. He also said the site does not have any wetlands.

Geller said the car wash would have a mechanized conveyor tunnel and that the service/oil lube change area would be in the same building. The 10,000-square-foot warehouse would be located in the rear of the property, away from the car wash, he said.

The warehouse would house a used-clothing collection and distribution facility if the board approves the application, according to Geller.

Parking for 28 vehicles would also be provided at the site, according to Geller.

Architect Greg Clark said the buildings would be done in earth tones and would be surrounded with planters.