The Village of Evendale
Special Council Meeting
January 30, 2007
The Village of Evendale held a Special Council Meeting at 8:00 am January 30, 2007. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Don Apking. Upon roll call, the following members were present: Mr. Chris Schaefer, Mrs. Carolyn Smiley-Robertson, Mr. Doug Lohmeier, Mr. Jeff Albrinck, Mr. Bill Puthoff, Jr., and Mr. Stiney Vonderhaar. Also present was Assistant to the Mayor, Jack Cameron; Economic Developer, Linda Fitzgerald and Village Clerk, Michelle Ficke.
Procter and Gamble gave a presentation on he proposed Mr. Clean Car Wash. Presenters included Craig McSherry, Project Manager; Fernando Delgado, Marketing; Glenn Williams, External Relations; and Mike Hershberger, Engineering, Research and Development; and Mike Foster, Director of Future Works.
P&G has done major research into this service area. The trend for the car wash industry has changed over the past ten years with a 10% increase in service washes as compared to those who wash their cars at home.
They expect consumers will drive out of their way to come to the Mr. Clean Car Wash. The intention is for the car wash to be a destination car wash. The proposed car wash is an upscale, premium, car wash with a clean environment which includes a coffee bar, gift shop, WIFI, flat screen TVs and even a waterfall. The facilities will also include an interactive area for kids and adults to spray suds at the cars as they move through the tunnel as they are being washed.
The facility is surrounded by landscaping. There would be a counter clockwise flow of traffic through the car wash with four lanes for service writers and an “express” lane per se for those requesting an exterior only wash. There are different levels of washes from exterior automatic wash to a hand clean interior detailing and exterior wash. Cars are to move through the car wash in fifteen minutes.
Mr. Glenn Williams, External Relations with Procter and Gamble, stated that P&G has the largest public relations organization in the world with 1300 people. Mr. Clean will be fifty years old this year and they plan and advertising and media blitz to promote the car wash. This would bring a lot of attention to the Evendale Commons development locally, nationally and globally that has the potential of attracting consumers and businesses to Evendale Commons.
Mike Foster, Procter and Gamble explained the environmental management. None of the water used at the car wash will enter the sewer system but would be maintained and cleaned. They will recycle 72% of the water.
There will be approximately fifty employees at the facility. Mr. Albrinck questioned the expectation of the car wash being a destination car wash. P&G gave the analogy of a person who will drive five to ten miles to a hairdresser. There are consumers who will do the same for their cars. Demographics and income levels, numbers of cars per household and habits and practices were some of the reasons stated for choosing Evendale Commons for the Mr. Clean Car Wash.
Mr. Albrinck also stated that it is his hope to get upscale restaurants interested in coming to Evendale Commons. When asked how P&G would be good neighbors to such businesses the response was that there would be landscaping to buffer the car wash, low noise levels, and a canopy to separate the car wash from the neighboring businesses. Mr. Albrinck also expressed a concern because Wal Mart is not considered a high end retailer and if a car wash is also added to the development that it would start a trend in the types of businesses willing to locate in the Evendale Commons. P&G representatives said that it is their intention to support, through public relations, that this is a different level of service and appeal than what is typically envisioned when it comes to a car wash. Mr. Clean Car Wash is innovative and upscale. Al Neyer has
a twelve year lease on the property and is P&G’s development partner in this venture. There was more of an interest from council in a partnership with Procter and Gamble than with Al Neyer due to their track record within the Village of Evendale.
Because it is a high end car wash, P&G expects to attract high end consumers such as busy moms and the people who believe they are what they drive and their cars are prized possessions and will only trust their car to the best. Procter and Gamble admitted that their car wash will bring consumers to Evendale Commons and other businesses within the development but that this concept would also work in reverse. The employees at the car wash would be staffed by a staffing agency which would lease from Al Neyer.
Mayor Apking stated that the income to the Village from the car wash is insignificant but the facility could be important to attract other businesses and that he has confidence in Procter and Gamble.
Mr. Schaefer that council will need to approve an amendment to the Planned Business Development for the Mr. Clean Car Wash that originally had seven lots on Reading Road. It would reduce the lots to six. There is also a concern about having one driveway for in and out with no traffic light. Jack Cameron added that there are options for front and back access to the lot. Five votes from council are needed to approve the lot split.
Mr. Albrinck stated that the Procter and Gamble car wash has some new and innovative ideas that are new to the consumer. He thanked P&G for their presentation and was convinced that their people had put a lot of time and energy into assuring that this would be launched effectively. He wants Evendale Commons to be successful and stated that we need to try to capture the market through uniqueness. Council will consider the amendment to the PBD with Anchor since it is their issue. Mr. Albrinck said that there is some risk involved but that P&G has a good track record.
Mr. Vonderhaar reminded council that the Village is a landowner near the property, too. Mr. Schaefer said that it is a sound business plan and that we need to look at what we can do to make it better. Mayor Apking reminded Council that we cannot postpone the process. Mr. Lohmeier said that the success of the development will drive traffic up and down Reading Road and help make something happen. There are trade offs with the success of the development and that is dealing with traffic and longer traffic lights. Mrs. Smiley-Robertson said that she did not have enough information from the Planning Commission minutes to make a decision on the lot split.
David Hyde, 3011 Cooperhill Drive addressed council. He said he respected council and felt that there was not one chance in one hundred of the car wash being successful. He said when asked about pricing the P&G representatives said they would work it out. He encouraged council to be skeptical and let the Mr. Clean Car Wash in Deerfield prove whether or not it will succeed.
Gordon Geraci, Otterbein Road and business owner addressed council. He said that P&G is new in the service sector and a big enough company to take a big risk on this venture. He did not hear why he should got to Mr. Clean Car Wash instead of Mike’s Car Wash. He also said that this would set the tone for the future development.
Catherine Vernon, Formica expressed a concern of traffic flow and lack of clarity on access road issues. She also said that the trees in the rendering around the car wash were nice but in reality would not hide the dumpsters that would back up to Formica’s headquarters.
Council and residents were encouraged to meet with Jack Cameron to have questions and concerns addressed. Jack has site plans available and James Jeffers is still working on the water retention issues.
Mayor Apking will consult with Solicitor, Tim Burke with questions this week. Mr. Lohmeier thanked Procter and Gamble for their informative presentation.
There being no further business to come before council, Mayor Apking asked for a motion to adjourn. A motion to adjourn was made by Mr.Vonderhaar, seconded by Mr. Albrinck and unanimously approved. Council adjourned at 9:50 pm.
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Mayor
Attest:
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Village Clerk
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