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.