I saw that account in the forums too, but I haven't heard anything confirmed. The property isn't listed for sale anymore, so a sale may be pending. But since it's currently zoned R-2, any commercial use/redevelopment would have to go through a public process first. We'll learn more if that happens.

"I didn't see you, what do you want me to do about it?"

Develop the capacity for shame and reflection?

Ha, that last emoji looks different on different systems but was meant to indicate that Showalter was absent.

No no no, you see, there's never anyone coming and my time is too valuable for that.

LOL, it took no time at all to find a car driver committing a moving violation. Time for Dutch-style continuous sidewalks.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OfB...

One of Ferndale's most vocal 'avid cyclists' says he drives out of his way to take Oak Park Blvd now that they've ruined 9 Mile.

Fine with it in this case! Although I heard it was the developer who requested the delay.

Not everyone can afford or physically ride a bike. Tear out all the bike lanes and everybody get back into a car!

Seriously, I read all of the replies Ximena made and I can't figure out what she actually wants beyond emotional validation.

No, this is a terrible use for the parcel. No new car-oriented businesses should be allowed in our TOD. Also, someday this car wash would go out of business, and site remediation costs for this kind of use would likely be very high, so expect it to sit empty far longer than the Timmy's has.

Future news item: A bicyclist was killed in a collision with an
F-150 in the painted bike lane on Arterial Rd. at 3 PM yesterday. The deceased's helmet was not equipped with fancy lights. The driver was not issued a citation and was given a police escort to her appointment to make up for the delay.

So now it's up to the Planning Commission to make a recommendation to City Council. If you have an opinion about this project, Wednesday's meeting is your chance to say something. 6:30 PM at City Hall. Public comment will be open. No need to be an expert, just share your view.
(9/9)

To be fair, the developer did submit the application before the new zoning rules took effect last December. So it's being reviewed under the older standards (which still includes the TOD). But the City still has the power to say it's not a good fit, and the staff clearly think it's not.
(8/9)

This is certainly not a staff power trip. Ferndale's Master Plan, adopted after a lot of community input, explicitly discourages more auto-oriented stuff along Woodward. That’s the vision. The car wash goes in the opposite direction.
(7/9)

The staff also says it's a "missed opportunity" for something more aligned with Ferndale's goals, like a building with housing and retail that people can actually walk to. They call the car wash inconsistent with Ferndale's identity and long-term plans.
(6/9)

Some highlights (or lowlights):
– Auto-focused use in a walkable area
– Loud music and constant car noise can be expected 20 feet from houses
– Cars stacking onto Woodward or College
– Aesthetic mismatch (it's designed like it's in Miami)
– Poor pedestrian access from parking
(5/9)

City staff reviewed the application and, while they go through the motions of neutrality, their opinion is pretty clear: they don't like it. They say this project "detracts, erodes, and reduces the desirability" of the surrounding neighborhood and commercial uses.
(4/9)

This property is in the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) overlay district. The TOD vision is for compact, walkable, mixed-use development that connects both sides of Woodward and supports bikes, pedestrians, and transit...not drive-thru car washes.
(3/9)