Gerhard Ltr Zoning Cedar Lake P
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October 4, 2004
Mr. Mayor Pro-Tem &
Dubuque City Council Members
City Hall
Dubuque,JA 52001
Dear City Council Members,
Tonight I bad the opportunity to watcb the public meeting via television on the proposed changes to tbe
Cedar Lake Plaza planned unit, upon which Mr. Anderson and his partner were lobbying for their carwash
to be allowed into the development.
I would like to start by commending those of you who voted a nay decision for this project For five years I
have lived behind Mr. Anderson's West End car wasb. As one of you put it, you would not want a car
wasb in your "back yard", tbat's exactly what I bave been dealing with for the last five years.
Mr. Anderson would like you believe that be is willing to "bend over backwards" with the residents oftbe
area. I beg to differ.
December 13, 1999 I bad a meeting witb the Dubuque Dispute Resolution Center upon which a mediation
session was participated in between myself and Mr. Anderson. The dispute resulted in Mr. Anderson
agreeing to investigate the feasibility of restricting usage of rear vacuum cleaner ITom 6:00 a.m. to
midnight and also investigate the feasibî1ity of closing the rear door on the automatic car wash ITom
midnight to 6 a.m. To date the car wash runs 24/7 vacuums and all. I had agreed to meet with planning and
zoning to discuss the screening requirements for C3 abutting R3, and also with Naumann Nursery about
planting trees & schrubbery. Apparently there isn't a whole lot of requirement for abutting residential
property and the trees were too expensive to purchase and Naumann Nursery didn't feel with the slope of
the hill side tbat trees would work
Mr. Anderson stated at the meeting on October 4, 2004 that he was willing to do fencing at the new facility
if allowed. He also stated that he did erect a fence at the West End Car Wash at the request of the
neighbors. To date the only fence that is in place is the one at the Northwest comer. I bad asked Mr.
Anderson about a fence across the back of the car wash and his response was about the same as turning off
the lights at the proposed new location. He thought that by having a fence around the car wash tbat would
invite "shinanigans" to go on.
Mr. Anderson indicated that the car wash bas an attendant on duty. This I do confirm, I have spoken to
several of them when I bave called and asked them to talk to the patron who was washing their car with the
loud car stereo, and would they please ask them to turn it down.
I cannot begin to count the numerous times tbat I have had to call on our police department to address the
noise issue of the car wash. In the summer it is a bang out for young people with loud car stereo's that
rattle tbe windows in our house. On occasion my husband bas even gone up the hill to confront a patron of
the car wash for a noise issue. There is also the issue of "bum-outs" after people get done washing their
cars and attempt to go up the incline out ofthe car wash. Not to mention the garbage issue, there is
constantly trash blowing in our yard and items disposed of over the hill, including tires, cans, bottles and
food wrappers.
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To have an enjoyable sunny afternoon on the deck is absolutely impossible with the hum of the vacuum
cleaners going at all times of the day.
Do I think Mr. Anderson has lived up to his part of the resolution? Absolutely NOT. He was blowing
smoke when he said he would cooperate with the neighbors in addressing their issues about the potential
problems his car wash would pose. I know first hand, been there done tbat If you don't believe me, check
the records of the Dubuque Dispute Resolution Center and the number of calls I've made to the police
department requesting tbem to address the noise issue at the car wash, drive to the West End car wash and
see the fence, stop by my house and sit on my deck see if you like putting up with the noise of 50 car
washes on a beautiful sunny afternoon Or 30 for that matter.
In closing I would like to reiterate you made the correct decision in not allowing Mr. Anderson to have his
car wash, barring any traffic issues, there are many other issues to consider. His record at the West End
site has not been all that favorable and I know most of the neighbors have given up on trying to fight him
on this issue. He is not a good neighbor and I thank you for baving your thinking caps on and adjusted.
You were right on target with this issue and the people who were in opposition of this business have no
idea the battle they have just won.
Had I known this meeting was taking place, I would have shown up and voiced my opposition too, so you
could know first hand what problems accompany this type of business. They are both real and ITustrating.
I feel my property value bas gone down because ofthis business. I myself have given up hope of any
resolution to this problem. I suppose it is something I wi11 bave to live with because it is....in my back
yard.
Tbank you for taking the time to read this letter and kudos to those of you who made the right decision.
ê~S~
Brenda L. Gerhard
4950 Northrange Court
Dubuque, IA 52002