City council rejects controversial car wash

Despite findings by city staff that a proposed car wash and lube/ oil change business would have little or no impact on a nearby residential neighborhood, the city council voted 3-1 on Monday to reject the project.

Most of the council members sided with the dozens of residents who opposed building the Simi Auto Spa on the blighted corner of Deodora Street and Los Angeles Avenue, because of the noise and added traffic such a business would generate.

Mayor Pro-tem Barbra Williamson stood alone in favor of the project. Councilmember Steve Sojka didn’t vote.

“I can’t think of a better place for a business to be than on a main street in our community,” she said.

Any business would add traffic to the area and city reports show this type of business would have the least amount of impact on the neighborhood, Williamson said.

According to staff reports, a car wash would generate less daily vehicle trips—about 230 on the average—than would other uses for erty, such as a fast food restaurant or a retail or office building. Additional noise generated by a car wash would hardly be noticeable with busy Los Angeles Avenue and the train tracks nearby.

However, Mayor Paul Miller, echoing the sentiments of most opponents of the project, said the business “just is not the right one for the neighborhood.” It would be too close to homes and bring in too many employees and too much traffic, he said.

Residents of Deodora and Church streets told the council the area is known for having a relatively high number of vehicle accidents. This project would only exacerbate the situation and contribute to unsafe conditions for school children attending nearby Simi Elementary and Apollo High schools.

Drivers would be enticed to make illegal left turns onto and from busy Los Angeles Avenue when entering and exiting the car wash, they said, and eastbound Los Angeles Avenue traffic would likely back up when drivers have to wait to enter the establishment.

Moreover, they argued noise from the car wash blowers, vacuums and workers would disrupt and detract from the quaint and tranquil nature of one of Simi Valley’s oldest neighborhoods.

Property owner Noordin Yusufaly, who spent close to three years and hundreds of thousands of dollars in planning the project, said he’s unsure of what he’ll do now with the property.

“I haven’t decided; I haven’t really looked at my options yet,” he said.