Rules set for mobile carwashes
T.O. council softens planners' proposals
by Meda Freeman
Daily News Staff Writer
THOUSAND OAKS - The City Council on Tuesday
approved regulations for mobile carwashes that are significantly more lenient than the
restrictions that were proposed by the Planning Commission and city staff.
After an approximately three-hour hearing,
council members voted 3-1, with Jaime Zukowski dissenting and Alex Fiore absent, to adopt
the revised regulations for businesses that roam the city, scrubbing vehicles.
The council amended the proposed restrictions so
they do not limit the amount of time these businesses can spend working in certain areas
or require the carwash operators first to obtain written permission from individual
property owners. The council also exempted mobile auto detailers from the
restrictions.
"For the most part, I don't think a lot of
this can be enforced anyway," said Councilman Frank Schillo as he suggested the
majority of numerous deletions and revisions to the proposed regulations.
The city has been reviewing the issue of mobile
car washing for about three years, initially responding to concerns about the
environmental quality of the water runoff from these roaming businesses. The lengthy
review process included a series of meetings with city staff and area carwash operators in
a special Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce committee.
About a dozen people spoke out against the
proposed regulations Tuesday, saying they felt it was discriminatory and would force many
of these business people out of jobs.
"This resolution puts me out of
business," said Michael Tachco, who owns a detailing business and was worried that
officials were not proposing he be given enough time to work on a car in a certain area.
"That's all there is to it - at least in the Conejo Valley. I took a big
risk - a chance. I put my family in jeopardy to do this."
Councilwoman Judy Lazar said Tuesday she could
not now support many of the proposed restrictions, especially because water regulatory
officials have not taken issue with the possible runoff concern.
"The water runoff at this time is not a
problem," Lazar said. "Sometimes we get carried away with our effort to
control what we see as a possibly detrimental (situation)."
The regulations approved by the council Tuesday
require mobile carwash operators to get a $150 administrative permit from the city, can
only use potable water without any soap of additives and cannot wash on city streets
except in residential area. They also will be prohibited from washing cars in the
parking lots or retail centers but can work behind such shopping centers.
And instead of requiring the mobile carwash
operators to get written permission from property owners in commercial office and
industrial areas or condominium and apartment complexes, landowners will be required to
post signs specifying they do not want mobile car washers on the site, the council
decided.
Reprinted from Daily News, November 11,
1993.
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