A newly proposed automated car wash at the corner of Norwell Dr. and Island Hwy. N. has made it through the Nanaimo Design Advisory Panel meeting stage with a few recommendations. (City of Nanaimo)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

auto car wash

Automated car wash proposed for Country Club Centre area

Jan 14, 2024 | 6:52 AM

NANAIMO — A new car wash may be coming to the Country Club Centre area of Nanaimo.

A proposal design for a one-and-a-half-story automated car wash on the vacant lot northwest of the intersection of Norwell Dr. and Island Hwy. N near Dairy Queen was recently brought to the Jan 11. Nanaimo Design Advisory Panel meeting.

The plan would place the building in the centre of the lot with access off Island Hwy. N and Norwell Dr. into a one-way circulation pattern.

The proposal touched on the environmental sustainability of the car wash, including using significant water-saving features such as using recycled water through a water reclaim system.

Fresh water is only used during the last rinse to avoid any drying spots, which then runs into an underground tank and is recycled.

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Oil separators and filters will also be installed to separate the oil, grease, and other contaminants washed off vehicles before they enter storm drains.

Recommendations made by the committee included finding ways to shield the headlights from vehicles in line to use the car wash from blinding passing drivers on Norwell Dr., adding more trees, and additional seating options in the building’s entrance.

The committee accepted the prosal as presented with the recommendations and approval of two variances to allow a canopy projecting from one side of the building, and to allow no landscape buffer along the flanking side yard, with all required landscape occurring within the rounded corner right-of-way of Norwell Dr. and Island Hwy. North.

The site had a previous development permit issued for a different car wash at the same location, but that permit lapsed before any construction was done.

The proposal still needs to go before City council for approval of a development permit.

The site was home to a gas station until 2014, before becoming vacant and eventually being torn down.

The currently empty lot near the intersection of Norwell Dr. and Island Hwy. North was once the home of a gas station. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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