The Hooksett Planning Board on Oct. 20 continued the public hearing for a proposed Washville automatic car wash at 1317–1319 Hooksett Road after residents and an attorney for a nearby operator urged the board to require a comprehensive traffic-impact study.

The applicant, represented by GPI Engineering, presented updated plans showing a single, 135-foot automatic tunnel, three pay lanes, 24 vacuum stalls and on-site stormwater infiltration measures. GPI said the proposal reduces impervious surface compared with the current paved condition and will reuse about 65% of process water in a multi-stage recycling system.

Why it matters: Public commenters and a nearby car-wash operator argued that the proposed Washville would generate hundreds of new trips on an already busy stretch of Hooksett Road, where the applicant’s short traffic memo estimated 656 weekday trips and 1,213 Saturday trips. Opponents said those figures warrant a full traffic-impact study under Hooksett’s development regulations; the applicant said its count follows industry-standard trip-generation rates and DOT, which has jurisdiction over Route 28/Hooksett Road, did not require a full study in its initial review.

What was discussed: GPI’s consultant said the design includes two stormwater basins (a bioretention area and an infiltration basin), full water treatment and reuse (including ozone for odor control) and a driveway layout to DOT standards. The applicant said DOT returned minor comments and that a formal state driveway permit review is underway. Engineers told the board their empirical trip-rate estimate used vehicle counts from three existing Washville locations (including Concord), and they estimated the project would not cross the town’s 500-trips-per-day threshold that typically triggers a full study.

Opposition and safety concerns: Aria Novenbach, attorney for Tony Crawford (operator of existing local car washes), urged the board to require a full traffic study, listing requested elements: updated counts at nearby driveways and intersections, queuing and sight-distance analysis, level-of-service calculations at nearby intersections, cumulative-impact assessment and an evaluation of turn-lane needs. She and other commenters also called for planning for winter conditions: several speakers said cars often drip water as they exit car washes and that melting and refreezing near site driveways is a safety risk in cold weather.

Applicant response: The applicant told the board it has winter and ice-control procedures, an on-call snow/ice vendor and staff monitoring during cold weather. GPI’s traffic engineer said the majority of vehicle trips would come from the local traffic stream rather than drawing long-distance trips to the corridor, and said DOT’s preliminary review did not require a full study.

Board action: The board did not rule on the traffic-study waiver request at the meeting. Instead, members voted to continue the Washville application to Nov. 3 for further review, with the expectation the town’s counsel and staff would advise whether the net-trip or gross-trip interpretation of the town rule applies and whether a full traffic study must be submitted before any final board decision.

Next steps: The applicant will continue to work with DOT on the driveway permit, and the board is scheduled to revisit the application Nov. 3. If the board chooses not to waive the town’s traffic-study requirement, the applicant would be required to prepare and submit a full traffic-impact study meeting the Hooksett development regulations.

Ending: The hearing showed the tension between industry-standard trip-generation methods and local regulatory thresholds — and underscored the board’s deference to DOT on driveway control while still weighing local standards for traffic and safety.