Cleaning Up: Council Approves Plans for State-of-the-Art Car Wash

A state-of-the-art carwash facility, featuring flex services and a wash tunnel, may be among the next businesses to pop up along Route 301 in Bowie.

Tuesday, the council voted unanimously to recommend the detailed site plan for a Whip Clean Car Wash facility. The proposed location is an lot at the intersection of Route 301 and Mitchellville Road in South Bowie.

According to Nancy Slepicka, a representative for the the property owners and developers, the car wash will offer a variety of services to patrons. There will be a "wash tunnel," where patrons will stay inside their cars through the washing and drying cycle, and there will be options for additional finishings services—like vacuuming and wiping dry the vehicle—following the wash cycle. 

"I'm happy to see a car wash coming to Bowie," Councilman Henri Gardner (District 3) said, though he did question if any green or environmentally conscious practices would be employed at the facility. 

Brett Schecter, one of the property owners and developers, explained that the car wash will recycle it's own water for reuse, and that all cleaning products used by the facility are regulated by the EPA.

The city will send it's recommendation of approval to the Prince George's County Planning Board, who will consider the detailed site plans for the car wash at a future meeting. Detailed site plans represent the final phase in the county land use review process. If they are approved, developers may begin applying for building permits.