New car wash up for approval in Crystal Lake

Crystal Lake soon could be home to a new car wash.

On Wednesday, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended that the City Council approve Spring Creek LLC’s request to open Crystal Lake Express Car Wash at 5720 and 5804 N. Route 31.

The site is made up of five vacant parcels and one unincorporated residential lot that must be rezoned and annexed.

The parcels in the city limits previously received approval for a car dealership that never was constructed.

The site is south of Crystal Cove Plaza, 5714 S. Route 31, and north of Calvary Church, 5906 Route 31.

The parking lot has two handicap-accessible, two employee and two customer spaces, along with 24 vacuum spaces. There is no interior retail area.

“It will be an automated car wash,” city planner Katie Cowlin said. “The building architecture is full masonry with stone. It’s a nice-looking building located in the city’s commercial corridor.”

Cowlin said basic car washes will be $3, but patrons can pay more to upgrade their washes to include Rain-X and other finishes. Vacuums are free.

“What’s unique about this one is that they are offering a pet wash,” Cowlin said. “You can bring your dog in. ... It’s in the same building, but it doesn’t go through the same system.”

The separate area will allow residents to wash pets without “muddying up their home bathrooms.”