Eric Simpson, a 26-year McLean resident is hoping to have history on his side.
"The station was built in 1964. The neighborhood was built in the ‘70s," said Simpson, owner of two and a half years of the Chevron on Old Dominion in McLean. Simpson presented a revised plan for the car wash he hopes to construct and operate on the .9-acre property before the MCA (McLean Citizens Association) Planning and Zoning Committee.
"I refined the plan to win over community support," said Simpson, adding "we don’t have a budget deep enough to have a consultant — we fry our own hamburgers." The proposed car wash would be a 20-foot by 30-foot one-story structure, no higher than the existing building, said Simpson, pointing to the rendering he presented before the committee.
"We’re hoping to serve our existing customers. We expect about 60 a day. This is a hydraulic machine — it runs on water and is virtually soundless — less than 30 decibels. We recognize this as a bedroom community. There would be no lighting and would not run at night," said Simpson, noting the property is bordered by large pine trees. "I expect them to stand until nature no longer lets them stand there."
"We’re putting the services closer to the people. There will be less traffic by people needing a wash," said Simpson.
LOCAL RESIDENTS voiced concerns about the potential car wash.
The McLean Country Estates homeowners association, represented by board member Jack Nugent, opposed the car wash with 10 votes, nine votes neutral and none in favor, he said. "There are some legitimate concerns of the homeowners association — such as additional traffic in that corner area. This is not an easy intersection."
Eight-year Hunting Hill Lane resident Alice Breed said there is already too much traffic. "It’s an unattractive nuisance," she said. "I didn’t buy here to live in Tysons Corner III. If I wanted to live near services I would have bought in Tysons. I bought out here to be with the forest, trees, country, deer and to ride bicycles," said Breed.
Trees are another concern, said Nugent, as is the preservation of the residential aspect of the community. "This is one more step in the commercialization of that corner," he said. A survey conducted by the Fairfax County urban forester indicated that the roadwork involved in constructing the car wash would damage the old pines that are 20 inches in diameter, he said. The forester recommended against the project.
NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENT Beth Tseng, whose property is three yards from the buffer zone, expressed concern over the potential damage that may be caused to trees by unknown chemicals used in a car wash.
"The detergents are all broken down in the treatment process and exceeds state standards for run off," said Simpson, noting that 80 percent of the 14 gallons used for a car to be washed would be recycled. He said there would be about 180 gallons of run off based upon three gallons of water per car at the 60 cars per day he expected. "The average homeowner uses 50 gallons of water to wash his car in the street," said Simpson.
Simpson turned personal when he addressed Tseng. "Mrs. Tseng’s subdivision was built 10 years after the gas station. You knew what you were buying next to. If you didn’t want that, why did you move there?" he asked.
"I’m disappointed in both father and son for personally attacking my family," said Tseng.
"I would enjoy a car wash there," said Planning and Zoning committee member John Adams. "However, although the neighbors bought there, knowing the gas station was already there, that’s all they bought into — not an additional project of the car wash. I will vote against it," said Adams.
The MCA Planning and Zoning Committee voted 6-2 to recommend against the construction of the car wash to the Fairfax County Planning Commission, the next option for Simpson.