Title/Name/Summary
Kort Car Wash LLC – 8701 159th Street – Site Improvements & Façade Renovation
History
QUICKFACTS
Project
Kort Car Wash LLC – 8701 159th Street – Site Improvements & Façade Renovation
Legistar ID: 2025-0379
Project ID: AR-25-00575
Petitioner
Mohammad Abdullah, Owner of Kort Carwash LLC
Purpose
The petitioner is proposing to make accessibility improvements to their parking lot and renovate the façade of their existing single-story building at 8701 159th Street.
Requested Actions: Appearance Review
Project Attributes
Address: 8701 159th Street
P.I.N.(s): 27-23-100-008-0000
Comprehensive Plan Planning District: 159th & Harlem Planning District
Comprehensive Land Designation: Neighborhood Mixed Use
Existing Zoning: BIZ, General Business District
Existing Land Use: Motor Vehicle Services
Proposed Land Use: Motor Vehicle Services
Surrounding Land Use:
North: BIZ, General Business District, Multi-Tenant Commercial (Waterfall Plaza)
South: R-4, Residential District, Multi-Family Residential (Highland Brook & Crystal Creek Subdivisions)
East: BIZ, General Business District, Multi-Tenant Office
West: BIZ, General Business District, Motor Vehicle Sales (Infiniti of Orland Park)
BACKGROUND
The property was granted a Special Use Permit to allow the construction and operation of a fully automatic auto laundry business in 1975 via Ordinance #1454. Since then, the car wash has been in operation despite changing ownership numerous times over the years. One of the former businesses that operated the car wash, Clean & Bright Car Wash, obtained an Appearance Review in 2012 (2012-0451) to replace their overhead doors, add self-serve vacuum spaces, remove a portion of the curb along the east side of the entrance to the property, and repave a majority of the parking lot. Other than these improvements, the original building that was constructed in 1975 has remained untouched.
In early 2024, Village code enforcement staff observed work being done to the exterior of the building without a permit. The front of the building was boarded up, one of the two overhead garage doors were removed, and two vacuum stations were installed over the existing accessible parking stall in front of the building. The new car wash tenant, Kort Car Wash LLC, doing business as Washen, proceeded to submit an Appearance Review application to renovate the façade. Their initial proposal included continuing the work that they had already begun, which was not code-complaint. This consisted of installing silver composite panels over the existing brick façade, black composite panels over the mansard roof, installing a new black vinyl roll up door, new exterior light fixtures, and a new front entrance door. This proposal was denied, as commercial structures are required to have anchored brick, stone, or similar masonry materials to extend from the adjacent grade to the top of the window that is highest on the subject façade, per Section 6-308.F.4.a. of the Land Development Code. Therefore, covering the entire façade in composite panels is not allowed. The Village encourages four-sided architecture, so only renovating one building elevation is not ideal. After numerous reviews, they have proposed a design that is code-compliant and have agreed to remove the work that is not code-compliant.
DETAILED PLANNING DISCUSSION
The petitioner is proposing to renovate the building exterior and add site improvements at 8701 W. 159th Street.
Building Elevations
The existing north elevation consists of brick, two aluminum and glass overhead garage doors, a main entrance door with an arched brick entrance feature, two coach house lights, a brick detailed window, and a Spanish tile shingle canopy mansard style roof. Many of these elements were damaged or altered without approval. There is also an existing blue fence/railing around the main entrance.
As a result, the renovation will involve the removal of the Spanish tile shingle canopy on all four sides of the building. The composite panels that were installed without Village approval will also be removed so that the brick will be visible again as the primary building material. The vinyl roll up door will be removed and the aluminum/glass overhead door will be restored in its place to match the existing design. The existing fence/railing around the main entrance will be painted black as part of this project to match the trim around the front door.
Site Plan
The two vacuum stalls that were installed without Village approval will be removed and the existing accessible parking space will be restored. Additionally, there will be an accessible striped crosswalk painted on the parking lot to connect the parking space to the ramp at the main entrance. The existing pedestrian ramp will also be improved with the truncated dome tile and a dome mat to meet accessibility requirements.
Parking lot screening landscaping will be installed along Orlan Brook Drive to bring the site more into compliance with current landscaping requirements.
Overall, the project conforms to the Village’s Comprehensive Plan, Land Development Codes, and policies for this area.
Recommended Action/Motion
The Appearance Review for the Kort Carwash LLC Façade Renovation and Site Improvements, case number 2025-0379, received May 2, 2025, has been administratively approved on September 10, 2025 subject to the following conditions:
1. Obtain building permit(s) prior to starting work;
2. Install all landscaping by October 31, 2025;
3. Meet all Land Development Code and Building Code requirements.