Natick Planning Board Continues Route 9 Car Wash Hearing to June 3

NATICK -- May 6, 2026, Natick Planning Board continues Route 9 car wash hearing for a third time, setting June 3 date. The board voted unanimously to continue the special permit hearing for Prestige Car Wash's proposed two-bay automated facility at 625 Worcester Street after a lengthy session in which applicant consultant Jeffrey Dirk of Vanasse Associates presented a transportation impact assessment finding no significant off-site traffic impacts, estimating the Saturday peak hour would add 165 vehicle trips, with on-site queuing capacity of 44 vehicles, while board members and eight public commenters challenged the methodology. Chair Andy Myers pressed the applicant on curb radii suggesting an unintended exit movement at the easterly Route 9 driveway, and member Edward Nuttenson raised concerns about noise barrier effectiveness and sight-line hazards on the uphill Route 9 approach. Ranger Road resident and traffic engineer William Ching submitted transaction data from a Framingham Route 9 car wash showing peak-hour volumes "significantly higher" than the ITE-based estimates. Reviews from the town's DPW, Board of Health, and Conservation Agent remained outstanding at the time of the vote.