An application to build another car wash facility in Ceres met with resistance at the Ceres Planning Commission Monday evening when Chairman Gary Condit announced he couldn’t support the project.
However, three other commissioners gave the green light to the Quick Quack application, noting the business is a permitted use for the Hatch Road Community Commercial property zoning.
The project site is next to Raising Cane’s on Hatch Road.
Quick Quack Car Wash filed for two actions – a lot line adjustment to merge the two lots at 1355 and 1363 E. Hatch Road into one and site plan approval to allow for its second location in Ceres. Commissioners R.J. Jammu, Bob Gobble and Dorie Perez voted to approve the application. Commissioner Francisco Mireles was absent.
The proposed development includes a new 3,588 square-foot automated car wash building featuring two on-site vehicle queuing lanes that merge into a single wash tunnel. Nineteen vacuum stalls, parking areas, landscaping, lighting, a trash enclosure, and on-site circulation improvements complete the project.
Commissioner Jammu felt if the council wants a moratorium on car washes that it needs to act on setting a limit. He noted the controversy that occurred in 2023 when the commission approved a car wash/gas station project next to Flyer’s gas station. When the project was appealed, the City Council allowed the car wash to proceed but not a gas station so close to Flyer’s.
Condit said he is frustrated that Ceres seems to get a lot of repeat businesses. He said the city needs to be “very selective when it comes to sort these sorts of businesses that we’re bringing in.”
“Our City Council has taken no real leadership to fix this issue,” said Condit, “and until we send them a clear message and put them on the spot for approving a project like this for them to face the consequences until something’s going to change.“
Julian Aguirre, the city’s Economic Development manager filling in for lack of a Community Development Director, reminded the commission that a lot line adjustment and site plan approval were separate issues from any moratorium. He said the commission could make a recommendation for council consideration of a car wash moratorium.
Condit held fast to his opposition, saying: “I feel like we’re going to let the City Council off easy because I feel like a lot of people are going to be up in arms.”
Quick Quack owner Vance Shannon said there was nothing legally that allowed the commission to deny his project.
“If the City Council chose to have a moratorium or a separation of car washes they would have done so,” said Shannon. He reiterated: “there isn’t any reason legally to deny the project.”
When Shannon noted there was no public opposition to his project, Condit retorted “there’s no (city) outreach whatsoever … when it comes to economic projects in the city of Ceres. Zero.”
Condit motioned to table the item so the city could generate public participation on the matter at a future meeting but his motion failed.
Aguirre advocated for approval, saying Quick Quack wants “to be part of our community.”
City Attorney Nubia Goldstein said the commission can only legally deny a project based on technical requirements and “not based off of general opposition to the specific type of project.” In other words, if the zoning permits a use, the city cannot deny it without making four findings of exception.
Jammu disagreed with Condit, saying the commission’s job is to ensure if “everything aligns with the General Plan and zoning laws.” His motion to approve was approved 3-1 with Condit voting no.
Existing car washes in Ceres include:
- A new Mister Car Wash under construction on Whitmore Avenue west of Morgan Road;
- Quick Quack Car Wash in the Ceres Gateway Center at Service and Mitchell roads;
- Mister Car Wash at the Cruisers station at Whitmore and Mitchell roads;
- Mister Car Wash at 1740 E. Hatch Road;
- Gateway Car Wash at 3117 Service Road east of Mitchell Road;
- Extra Mile Chevron station at 1821 Mitchell Road;
- Automated drive-thru at the new Circle K just outside the Ceres city limit on Herndon Court.
- Coin Operated Car Wash on Mitchell Road.
Also taking place on Monday was a discussion about commissioner absences brought up by Chairman Gary Condit.
Commissioner Gobble missed the March 2 meeting and Jammu missed meetings on Feb. 2 and April 6.
Ceres Municipal Code Section 2.05.060 spells out that commissioners shall automatically be removed from the Planning Commission if they miss two consecutive regularly scheduled meetings, except in the event of illness or absence excused by the chairman with the concurrence of a majority of the commission. Jammu’s absences were not consecutive.
While the code section has been in place for years, Condit said he didn’t feel it was fair to start enforcing the rules for an ouster.
Goldstein said “any type of action or enforcement, for lack of a better term, is better left once everyone is aware of their rules.”
She reminded commissioners to give advance notice to city staff about an impending absence “so that we can provide that request for an excused absence to the commission at the meeting.”
At the end of the meeting Condit led a discussion about the commission giving up its $80 monthly stipend due to the city’s financial crisis.
Perez said she preferred that commissioner get paid per meeting and not per month saying she sometimes uses her stipend to pay for babysitters while she attends meetings.
“I think it allows people who aren’t independently wealthy or things like that to take part in government,” said Perez. “So, I would hope that we would be able to keep at least by meeting payment rather than per month.”
Goldstein recommended that if the panel desires, she would prepare a commission resolution that formally requests that the council consider making this change to the stipend policy.
