Super Star Car Wash voted down by Goodyear council

A use permit request for a new car wash was voted down by the Goodyear City Council 5-2, a rare move against a development project in the city.  

Super Star Car Wash, which has about 30 locations in Arizona, applied to move into a 1.27-acre parcel on McDowell Road and Bullard Avenue, right next to the site of a future QuikTrip gas station. 

Had the car wash been approved, it still would have needed to undergo a noise study and further approval from the city before it opened its doors to the public. 

But the council was having none of it. 

“I think there’s a million other places in the city that this can go,” Councilmember Bill Stipp said at the Monday meeting. “Just not here.”

“I’m not seeing how it’s a good fit,” Councilmember Sheri Lauritano said. “I’m just not there, sorry.”

The council appears gun shy about approving further development in the area. Two hotels have been built and plans are underway to develop an office space along with the QuikTrip on that same corner. 

Stipp likened the approval of those hotels to “self-inflicted wounds” on the council's part. 

He said during the Monday meeting he welcomed family to one of the neighboring hotels over the weekend and was unable to exit the area “without hanging a dangerous U-turn at one of the intersections.”

Stipp said he felt “embarrassed that we allowed a development of this size to go in without the ability to traverse north-south coming out of there, or an east-west.” 

He said he doesn't want to compound the traffic issues in the area. 

“If you look back over the last probably 10 years, I am rarely a ‘no’ vote on development projects, but this one I may very well be," he said.

Councilmember Laura Kaino raised concerns about noise generated by the fans and other machinery, especially in such close proximity to the hotels. 

“We’ve done that in another area and you hear the blowers,” Kaino said.

“That blower sound just never stops and I think that it will impede the experience of whatever else is gonna come into that...I cannot support this use permit,” she said. 

Representatives from Super Star tried unsuccessfully to move the council. 

“I know the predecessors in some of the other car washes that are out there have not left you guys with a very warm and fuzzy feeling,” said owner Tim Varley. 

“We have to put our money where our mouth is...I’m confident in putting up $5 million to get this developed and prove to you all that we can meet or exceed the decibel levels.”

Only Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord and Councilmember Wally Campbell voted in favor of the use permit. 

Campbell and Lord both said the placement of the car wash makes sense in proximity to the hotels and right off Interstate 10.

“People have been really wanting those things off Bullard,” Lord said. 

“That piece of land...what do you think’s gonna go in there?” she said. “Are we gonna put a restaurant there?” 

Super Star Car Wash is in the process of developing another location in Goodyear at a different site. 

Goodyear City Council meetings are held in the  Municipal Court and Council Chambers at 14455 W. Van Buren St., Suite B101. To watch meetings online, go to the city of Goodyear website, or YouTube.

For Goodyear City Council meeting schedules and agendas, click here to be directed to the city's website.