Car wash, reserve center
top Normandy agenda

By Lauren Fritsky
Times Staff Writer

Members of the Normandy Civic Association supported the legalization of a car wash’s extra sign and parking spots at their meeting last week.
Representatives from Car Candy, located in a shopping center at 11721 E. Roosevelt Boulevard near Comly Road, first met with the civic group in January. But civic president John Wisniewski asked business owner Donna Williams and Tom Citro, a zoning expediter representing Williams, to revisit them in February since the matter had not been included on the group’s January agenda.
Wisniewski had also claimed that Citro submitted old pictures to the board showing the wrong signage.
The property includes eight flat wall signs and one freestanding sign with two panels. It is zoned an area shopping center district and permits only one freestanding sign with one face.
"The number of signs was not ascertained because they didn’t know what business it would be," Citro explained.
The extra signage that the civic board said was not reflected in the original pictures they received has since been removed, Citro said.
The business provides for 15 parking spots, which Williams originally obtained a variance for when she bought the property in 2002. But vacuums later installed at the car wash take up two of those spaces, which is why the business needs additional spots, Citro said.
The civic group voted to back Candy Car Wash’s proposal. The business’ zoning hearing was scheduled to take place this week.
In other news from the Feb. 15 meeting:
• Wisniewksi wants the group to vote at its March meeting on which of two uses it favors for the redevelopment of the Philadelphia Memorial Armed Forces Reserve Center at 2838-98 Woodhaven Road.
The center is being closed under the federal government’s Base Realignment and Closure program, which aims to consolidate property. AFRC personnel are transferring to a center in Bristol after the current site closes in 2011.
The City Planning Commission, the redevelopment authority for the project, received two proposals for the site. One is a new special admissions high school and the other is a police department training facility.
• The civic group is still concerned about trucks traveling through the neighborhood. The group might apply to get signs erected on Norcom Road directing traffic to Route 63 and to Frankford Hospital-Torresdale. Residents say trucks endanger the community and cause congestion by traveling through their neighborhoods in search of the two destinations.
• The civic group is planning an indoor community Spring Fling event for June. The group hopes to accommodate more than 200 guests but is still ironing out the details.
• The civic group’s plan to beautify an island on Nestor Road is being reviewed by the Department of Streets, according to Peg Recupido, an aide to City Councilman Brian O’Neill (R-10th dist.). The new island would include various plants and be maintained by the civic association. ••
The Normandy Civic Association’s next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 14, at 7 p.m., at the Norcom Community Center, 10980 Norcom Road.
Reporter Lauren Fritsky can be reached at 215-354-3038 or lfritsky@phillynews.com