Proposed Car Wash in Heritage Hill Plaza

The City of Lake Forest Planning Department has posted public notice of a pending application for the demolition of the former US Bank building to be replaced with the proposed 4,600 sq. ft. car wash tunnel and 13 self-service vacuum stalls, at the Heritage Hill Center at the northwest corner of the intersection of Lake Forest Drive and Serrano Road. In acknowledgement of this pending application, the Board of Directors invited the project applicants to present their application for review and comment before the Board and LFII Membership during the Board Meeting on June 6, 2020. The project developers presented their plan for the H2Go Express Car Wash. The developer confirmed that in constructing the car wash facilities, the 21 parking stalls as part of the former US Bank site would be eliminated to make room for the car wash tunnel and vacuum stations.

At conclusion of the developer presentation, questions and comments were opened to the Membership in attendance. Six (6) people presented to the Board with their questions and comments, with additional comments having been submitted in writing prior to the meeting. All spoke in opposition to the planned car wash project, with concern expressed over issues; increased traffic, deletion of parking spaces resulting in inadequate parking, incompatible land use as part of a neighborhood commercial center adjacent to homes and a school (Rancho Canada) and a heritage site (Heritage Hill), increased noise, increased hazards for pedestrian safety, and others. After completion of Member input, Board Members then questioned the developers. The 5 Board Members present voiced concerns regarding the project, echoing the comments of Membership, and in addition brought up additional issues  such as potential impacts to traffic flow, air quality and environmental compliance.

Action: The Board adopted a resolution to prepare and deliver a letter from LFII to the City of Lake Forest Planning Department summarizing the concerns identified and requesting a response from the City as to what solutions, if any, will be incorporated into the project design to mitigate these issues such that they would be rendered to levels of insignificance, this response to be delivered back to LFII MHOA prior to the next Board Meeting on July 1, 2020, with this item going to public hearing in August, 2020 before the Planning Commission. Please click here to see the letter sent by the Board of Directors.