By JOHN HOWELL What was once a lounge overlooking Spring Green Pond could become the site of a carwash by this fall, according to plans to be considered by the planning and zoning boards. Vincent Porzio, owner of Personal Touch Carwash with his uncle
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What was once a lounge overlooking Spring Green Pond could become the site of a carwash by this fall, according to plans to be considered by the planning and zoning boards.
Vincent Porzio, owner of Personal Touch Carwash with his uncle Dominick D’Agostino, said Friday the Warwick facility, which is capable of handling 100 cars an hour, although he expects it would never operate at such a volume, would be identical to one they opened last year in Johnston. It would be located on more than an acre not far from Hoxsie Four Corners on land now owned by Russell Yates. Under the terms of the sales agreement, Porzio said, Yates would demolish Copperfields, the lounge that has been closed now for more than a decade.
Porzio teamed up with his uncle 15 years ago, expanding the Connecticut-based business from four to 11 carwashes.
The facility planned for Warwick would offer four packages ranging in cost from $6.99 for the basic wash to $21.99 for the expanded package including undercarriage wash, wheel washing and selection of waxes. All washes include use of a vacuum at no additional charge.
Porzio said the facility would have more than 30 vacuum stations. He said the wash would have a 50-foot buffer from the pond as well as plantings around it. Access would be from Warwick Avenue. There would also be an area alongside the entrance road as access to the pond with parking for fishermen, said Porzio.
The carwash would be tied into Warwick sewers. Porzio said as much as 30 percent of the water used in washing is recycled and what does end up going into the sewer is basically “soap and water.”
He said that sewer systems welcome the wastewater as it serves to “clean” lines. Porzio put the cost of the development at $3 million.
Attorney Joseph Brennan, of Shekarchi Law, who is representing Personal Carwash, said the carwash is being situated to minimize impacts on the adjoining residential neighborhood to the west. Cars would enter the wash from the west end, thereby putting the blowers and vacuum stations away from residences. He said the vacuum would be a centralized system with minimal noise.
Area residents were invited to an informational session last month to meet and talk with Porzio about the development. According to the city planning department, former Ward 2 Councilman Thomas Chadronet was the only person to turn out.
According to the planning department, Yates is seeking to combine five lots with more than four acres into two lots. Yates would sell the lot to Personal Carwash. According to the plans, the building on the other lot with frontage on Warwick Avenue that was a dry cleaner would be demolished and a new building constructed in its place. Brennan said there are no plans for that building at this point.
As the project is a major land development with a change of use, it requires Planning Board approval. A special use permit is required of the carwash that requires Zoning Board of Review approval.
Yates could not be reached for comment.
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richardcorrente
What we have now is a long term abandoned building.
What is proposed is a money making, tax revenue, job creating business. I am all for it!
Congrats to all involved.
Happy Valentines Day everyone.
Rick Corrente
Tuesday, February 14, 2017 Report this
Thecaptain
Rick ,
Any chance that you could pay your car taxes, (and property taxes) then properly register your car and then go to the car wash?
Tuesday, February 14, 2017 Report this
ThatGuyInRI
Is there any story Corrente doesn't comment on?
Wednesday, February 15, 2017 Report this