PALM BAY, Fla. – As Central Florida’s second-largest city continues to grow, Palm Bay’s growth management department is making an argument that car washes and self-storage facilities are taking up limited commercial space for things that residents need more.
At a meeting Thursday night, the city council will consider banning building new car washes and self-storages for six months.
News 6′s James Sparvero interviewed two people washing their cars at El Car Wash on Babcock Street.
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Nicole Reyes said she thinks a moratorium is a good idea.
“It’s a little obnoxious,” she said about the number of car washes now.
“I feel like every block there would be a new car wash, after a car wash, after a car wash,” Reyes said.
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On the contrary, Roxann Morin, a small business owner, said the government should get out of the way.
“You should be able to have the freedom as a business owner to develop and put up as many businesses as you can,” Morin said. “If we start banning that freedom, it’s not really a freedom.”
Thursday night’s council meeting at city hall starts at 6 p.m.
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