Politics & Government

Bake Hand Car Wash Is Going Automatic

Planning Commission unanimously approves a proposal to automate Bake Hand Car Wash. Owners say the bad economy forced the business to modernize.

Citing the poor economy, owners of a Bake Parkway hand car wash will automate their operation, cutting by about half the number of employees needed to run it.

Plans to modernize , which sits on the corner of Trabuco Road and Bake Parkway, include the addition of two pay stations, installation of self-service vacuum stalls and the addition of new enclosures for equipment, trash and storage.

At a Planning Commission meeting Thursday evening, one of the business owners told city officials that the bad economy is pushing hand car washes in Southern California out of business "left and right."

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"Literally, [drivers] are going back to their driveways to wash their cars instead of paying the $14, $15," said Ron James, one of the trio of men who own the car wash.

He called the car wash as it currently operates a financial "detriment" to the entire site, which encompasses the Chevron gas station and convenience store.

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Automatic the process will cut labor costs, he said. According to the staff report, the number of employees needed to run the car wash will be reduced from 17 to eight through the automation process.

After discussing the possible impacts of the modernization, from noise to parking, the Lake Forest Planning Commission approved the proposal 4-0. (Commissioner Terry Anderson was absent.)

Commissioners requested that as part of the revamp, the owners cover the enclosure where vaccuums will be used with ivy and that some trees are planted near the car wash. 

Also as part of the automation, the car wash will extend its hours—a change that the commission agreed to as long as no complaints are received from neighbors in the area.


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