CAPE CORAL, Fla. — Construction has now started for the Tommy’s Express Car Wash on Santa Barbara Boulevard in Cape Coral. People who live there said the car wash will be nothing but trouble.
“Nobody on this street or the next street over is going to be very happy,” said James Cox, who lives on the canal. “They’ll make their money, they’ll kill some of the animals and our council will just say ‘oh I don’t know what, how that happened’.”
Tommy’s Express Car Wash won’t just be put next to homes, it’s also filling in part of the canal. Lynn Jenkins, who also lives along it, thinks it will be bad for the wildlife.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Residents clamor against planned car wash on Mast Canal
“We’re worried about the animals. We have a lot of manatees that come down here. We’ve seen manatee breeding, we’ve seen manatees give birth and all other kinds of wildlife, turtles, birds, fish,” Jenkins explained.
So does Maggie Crouthamel, another resident right next to the construction.
“My biggest concern is that is going to set a precedent for all the other canals in Cape Coral if they allow this one to be filled in, how do they say no to the next one?” questioned Crouthamel.
People like Rose Thom have tried to stop the car wash.
“According to the letter, which refused our public hearing, it said that this does not affect human environment. I don’t think that’s the truth and I’d like for them to come and tell us this massive car wash with chemicals,” Thom stated.
For people who live nearby the car wash, they just hope everything goes smoothly.
Brian Brooke Lives across the street from the car wash and said, “I’m not against progress as long as they follow the rules.”
The City of Cape Coral told NBC2 the property owner has to follow zoning and permit procedures as they work.
NBC2 reached out to Tommy’s Express Car Wash but has not heard back at this time.
The post Cape Coral residents push back against car wash construction project appeared first on NBC2 News.
