Pelham Manor Board Tentatively OKs Car Wash's Expansion

The Pelham Manor Board of Trustees gave approval on Monday to owners of a car wash to expand their facility.

Pelham Manor Car Wash at 4391 Boston Post Road had asked the board for the approval about three months ago, according to its owner, Michael Lage.

The facility will take over a furniture store next door and will build an oil change and lube center. The Planning Department had reviewed the proposal and had questions on items such as the façade, doors and signage, said Mayor James O'Connor.

“One problem with the plan was the exterior of the building,” said R. Rosini, a car wash representative. “[The existing car wash and the furniture store] would become one entity architecturally. “[We would] continue the stucco. Front of the glass will be double pane, with a roll up shade.”

Trustees expressed concern over clear glass with a shade, as it would allow people to see into the oil change and lube center from the street. Frosted glass would make it so that people “are not looking into the operations of the lube center,” said Village Manager John Pierpont.

Meanwhile, other trustees discussed the potential implications of traffic flow on Boston Post Road.

“On a busy day, the Hutch is backed up in both directions, right?” said Trustee Raymond Vandenberg.

Cars would be cued on Boston Post Road, Lage said, with a flagman also hired for busy road days. Pierpont said that the flagman has no authority to slow down or stop traffic on Boston Post Road.

The entrance and exit locations for the car wash will be moved; street lights will be present; and main car doors will be modified to look like homeowner garage doors, Rosini said.

After the discussion, the mayor and board agreed to conditionally approve the expansion, pending that they consult about the shade vs. frosted glass issue and that the garage door is also replaced on the car wash to look like the other doors.

At Monday’s meeting, the board also received a report from Village Police Chief Alfred Mosiello about traffic and enforcement.

Mosiello said police issued 24 speeding tickets last month. In addition, police placed a sign on Washington Avenue to reduce the incidence of speeding. Trustee Bertrand Sellier, commenting on how so many drivers speed through the village, said: “It is like a drag strip almost. It is amazing how fast people are going.”

The board also discussed the placement of additional stop signs at the intersection of Wolf’s Lane and Post Road. However, Pierpont said that the Department of Transportation “wouldn’t allow a stop sign for speed control alone.”

Here are the action items the board approved:

• The Police Report and the Village Clerk report.
• A resolution passed authorizing the Mayor to sign Abstract of Vouchers no.16520-16560.
• Minutes of the April 25, 2011 Regular meeting.

The board ended its Monday meeting by adjourning into executive session to discuss a personnel matter.