Car Wash Proposed For Main Street Site In Tewksbury

TEWKSBURY, MA — A car wash has been proposed for a Main Street site in Tewksbury. The proposal was discussed at a Planning Board meeting Nov. 27.

The proposed car wash, dubbed Washville, is for the site at 402 Main St., currently occupied by Tewksbury Florist and Greenery. The site is adjacent to Wamesit Lanes.

The project will require complete demolition of the existing site. The car wash will include a single 135-foot tunnel with significant space for cars lining up to prevent traffic overflow. The car wash can accommodate around 120 cars an hour during peak times, but that kind of demand is unusual, the project's representatives said at a recent Planning Board meeting.

The proposal will also need Conservation Commission approval due to a wetland located at the rear of the site.

Route 38 is under Mass DOT's purview, so the car wash is required to get Mass DOT access permit for a new driveway, which will consolidate the existing two driveways into one.

A Planning Board member said the proposal was "excellent, with a lot of detail" and commended the proposal for reducing the impervious surface area.

Another Planning Board member asked if Jim Waterman, Washville executive vice president, was aware of a car wash at a gas station across the street. Waterman said that car wash has not been operational in months, adding that Washville would offer a different service model anyway.

Washville has more than 20 locations, including 15 in New England.