Another section of open space along the heavily trafficked State Road in the Township Line area of Upper Darby could soon be developed.
The Upper Darby Zoning Hearing Board is scheduled to hear a request for a variance to build a car wash on 3 undeveloped acres at Township Line and State roads.
The agenda for the Sept. 30 meeting includes a request form property owner Route One Land Co. LLC for a variance to install pay stations and related improvements associated with a vehicle car wash on the property, which is currently zoned half commercial and half residential.
Plans by Navenewell engineering, surveying and land planning of Wayne. (COURTESY PHOTO)
That area, which is at the Springfield Township line, is seeing a surge of development.
A developer is proposing a mixed-use development on 14.5 acres next to Collingbrook United Methodist church, and just up State Road in Springfield ChristianaCare recently received permission to build a micro-hospital on 44 acres at 351 N. State Road.
The proposed car wash site, known locally as the former Mozino property, would be next and behind the Speedway gas station and border the 100-year-old Idle Hour Tennis Club over to Bella Vista Road, which would be directly impacted by the project.
Community members oppose the development that they say would wipe out open space and exacerbate flooding issues of the nearby Darby Creek.
“The property is directly adjacent to the Darby Creek Watershed. Removing nearly all of the trees from the property to build a car wash will certainly increase the potential flooding of the creek and surrounding areas,” said Lee Jordan, a member of the Pilgrim Gardens Aronimink Civic Association. “The area already floods in heavy rain.”
The civic association is also concerned about the impact of traffic creating additional safety and traffic issues on what they say is an already dangerous road, and neighbors on Bella Vista Road would be seriously impacted by additional traffic, noise and light pollution caused by a car wash.
“This is one of the last remaining undeveloped spaces in Upper Darby,” Jordan said. “The township already faces a severe shortage of green space. To allow this development to occur would be unwarranted.”
A trail through the area takes hikers through a sewer easement to Burmont Road in Haverford.
An additional concern are public utilities that run through the property. The Radnor Marple Haverford Sewer Authority and Monroe Energy Gas Lines both have lines underground that might be impacted or need to be relocated, causing further unintended consequences, residents say.
The Upper Darby Sewer Authority has jurisdiction on development downstream from the location with the system reported to be stressed to capacity.
Jordan said there is an abundance of vacant and abandoned properties that could be used for a car wash throughout the township that would not require the clearcutting of trees and the creation of more impervious surfaces.
At the Upper Darby Zoning Hearing Board meeting on Sept. 30, developers will request a variance to build a car wash at Township Line and State roads next to the Speedway gas station. (PETE BANNAN-DAILY TIMES)
Upper Darby Councilwoman Meaghan Wagner, whose First District includes the property, also opposes the plans, which she believes will have long-term negative effects.
“I strongly oppose the construction of a commercial car wash in what has long been a family-oriented, peaceful, residential area,” Wagner said in an email Wednesday. “My primary concerns center around the disruption this project would bring to the quality of life for local residents. A car wash introduces increased noise from machinery and high traffic volumes and would be devastating to this residential setting. The environmental impact, including water runoff and potential chemical use, poses risks to the nearby creek.”
Wagner said the community supports development when appropriate, but it must be aligned with the needs of the area.
“Simply put, a car wash is completely inappropriate in that location and will have long-term negative effects that will not be able to be reversed once put in place,” she said.
The zoning hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the council meeting room in the township building.
Originally Published: September 24, 2025 at 1:22 PM EDT