On Tuesday, March 26th, The Pittsfield City Council deliberated over a proposed site plan for the establishment of Lipton Car Wash by Lipton Inc. The proposed location, situated at 1035 South Street, was presented by SK Design Group President Jim Scalise. He provided a brief overview of the extensive 295-page site plan to the council, which has final approval over all applications for drive-throughs in the city.
Highlighted within the proposal were various intricate details, including plans for an internal connection with the neighboring Sunoco gas station on the north side to alleviate traffic movements onto Route 7/20. Key components such as traffic impact, site lighting, and storm water Management were addressed in the report, with particular emphasis on traffic studies, which were discussed by Scalise and Molly Pause from VHB, around the busy highway at the Pittsfield/Lenox line.
Despite an overall inclination towards approving the plan, significant concerns were raised by council members, primarily revolving around the anticipated increase in traffic on the already-bustling four-lane highway. Councilor Persip voiced frustration at the presentation of new documents and reports on the day of the meeting, underscoring a need for improved preparation.
Noteworthy aspects of the site plan included a considerable reduction in water usage compared to the previous establishment, the Dakota Restaurant, with the proposed car wash expected to utilize only 3,500 gallons per day, compared to the nearly 9,000 gallons the former restaurant was using. Additionally, the plan outlined provisions for accommodating up to 21 vehicles in its drive-up lanes and boasted the capability of washing up to 150 cars per hour. Councilor Warren inquired about the next steps in the approval process once the plan received council endorsement.
In a unanimous decision, the council voted for a right-turn-only exit on the north side of the property, pending approval from MassDOT. They further voted unanimously to approve the site plan proposal after a discussion that lasted more than an hour and a half.
For more information on the stories you hear, visit pittsfieldtv.org. I’m Zach Bianco, for PCTV News.
