Mr. Clean Car Wash Not Heading to Glenview Anytime Soon

With very little fanfare, the battle for the construction of a Mr. Clean Car Wash at 2100 Waukegan Road is over.

The village plan commission accepted a letter from the petitioner withdrawing the application at its regular meeting Tuesday, April 12, ending a series of debates that .

"It was withdrawn for whatever reason," said plan commission Chairman Steven Bucklin. "I personally don't know the reasons why."

Bucklin added that it's possible the applicant, Mr. Clean Car Wash CEO Bruce Arnett, noted the various issues that came up or perhaps the officials found another place to build.

Commissioners had concerns about potential traffic pile-ups on Waukegan Road, noise and likely water runoff's harmful effects to Valley Lo Lake.

At a  in February, area residents and business owners quite literally lined up to oppose the car wash. Traffic was a big issue during the debate, as opponents questioned the safety of motorists making left-hand turns in and out of the car wash.

Bucklin said it's disappointing that the business wasn't able to be constructed in Glenview.

"However, it may not have been the right fit for that location," he added. "...So I'm disappointed that a business wanted to locate here and chose not to for whatever reason, but I believe the process that went forward is the right process because it brought out the issues and some of the concerns of the neighbors and that's what this whole process is all about."

In other business, commissioners spent about an hour discussing an expansion of  restaurant, 1868 Prairie Street.

The expansion application calls for the elimination of several parking spots on the property, Bucklin explained -- a move that prompted officials to discuss where the potentially increased number of customers would park.

In a compromise, Grandpa's Place will have limited parking -- enough for 25 patrons in its upstairs banquet room -- from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, but will be able to use the nearby Metra train station parking lots after 4 p.m. The owners have the option to return to the commission and request a larger number of spaces if needed, Bucklin said.

All the commissioners approved of the agreement, with Commissioner Allan Ruter abstaining from the vote. Ruter said during board discussion he didn't want to vote on the issue because it was hard to discern from the documents presented how much parking space Grandpa's should be allowed.