3 - COMBINED PUBLIC COMMENTS_301 325 N TUSTIN

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5 As discussed above, the proposed Project is located only 1.2 miles from Speedie Wash. Although the Project currently has a gas station car wash operating on the Project site, small car washes that are part of gas stations are not considered direct competitors of express and full service model car washes. Thus the expansion to an express wash proposed by the Project will impose direct negative impacts on Speedie Wash not imposed by the currently operated gas station car wash. The sheer capacity of express car washes versus gas station car washes illustrates how the proposed Project only 1.2 miles from Speedie Wash will have a direct, detrimental impact on its business. Express car washes wash between approximately 600-700 cars on a typical weekday, and between approximately 800-1,000 cars on a typical weekend day. An express car wash will typically do 20,000 car washes in a single month. It is not uncommon for a busy express car wash to do up to 30,000 car washes in a single month. In contrast, smaller gas station model car washes like the car wash currently operated on the Project site, will typically average about 3,000 car washes monthly, or 100 car washes per day. Moreover, a gas station model car wash generally has at least three profit centers: (1) gas sales, (2) convenience store sales, and (3) car wash sales. In contrast, express car washes have only a single profit center – washing cars. A comparison of the existing gas station car wash located on the Project site to the proposed express car wash, which will span the length of property line of 301 N. Tustin Avenue, illustrates that the proposed express car wash and its significantly increased capacity will undoubtedly impact Speedie Wash as a direct competitor in extremely close proximity. Attached as Exhibit C are photographs of the existing gas station car wash operated at the Project site, which illustrate its diminutive size compared to the proposed Project. The Conklin’s know first hand that adding an express car wash close by will hurt their business. For instance, Speedie Wash’s suffered roughly an 8% drop in sales when a new express car wash, Rapids Express Car Wash, was built in the City of Orange on N. Tustin Street, approximately 4 miles from Speedie Wash. This negative impact on car wash businesses is not unique to Speedie Wash, but would apply to all car washes in the vicinity of the Project. (See Exhibit B – articles discussing impact of new car washes within 3 miles of existing car washes). Accordingly, the Project will be detrimental to the business operation and success, and thus the general welfare of Speedie Wash, as well as the numerous other car washes in the Project vicinity. Also noteworthy is the dental office that is adjacent to the Project. This business owner, a dentist, has expressed opposition because the car wash is proposed to be built very close to their building and the vibrations will harm their sensitive medical equipment, and the noise will harm their business operation.