Colorado business owner weighs appeal after local city council tightens car wash restrictions

A Wheat Ridge car wash owner is considering an appeal after the city council approved new restrictions tied to ongoing noise complaints from nearby neighbors.

During a recent Monday night meeting, Wheat Ridge City Council approved additional conditions on the Colorado business's special use permit. That included requiring bay doors to remain closed during operation and limiting overnight hours at the Autowash location in the city.

At the meeting, co-owner Dennis Dreeszen argued the business had already invested heavily in noise mitigation efforts, and he believed the city was continuing to change operational expectations after approving the project.

The business operates under a special use permit, which gives the city more flexibility to impose operational conditions and address concerns from nearby residents. City officials say the permit was approved with the expectation that the car wash doors would remain closed during operation.

City leaders say the latest restrictions are necessary after more than a year of complaints from residents living nearby.

"It was like living next to (Denver International Airport) with nonstop jets taking off," said neighbor Jan Facinelli, who lives next door to the business.

Facinelli said loud dryer systems running around the clock disrupted both her home life and the veterinary consulting business she operates out of her house.

"It would be so loud, shrill." Facinelli said. "It would come through my windows, through the walls. My patients, my little animals, would startle."

Neighbor Gretchen Josten said residents were initially excited about redevelopment at the longtime car wash site but quickly became frustrated after the business opened in February 2025.

"They opened with all the doors open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which just really bombarded us and showed us the impact that noise can have on your lives," Josten said.

Josten said the noise became so disruptive that her family moved its living room from the front of the house to the back.

"It was quite unbearable," Josten said.

The dispute has stretched on for roughly 18 months, with neighbors repeatedly appearing at Wheat Ridge City Council meetings asking for changes.

"When they submitted the application, it showed the doors being closed, and we're now just simply mandating that those doors remain closed while they're operating," said Amanda Harrison, Wheat Ridge's communications and engagement manager.

Harrison said the city is attempting to balance the needs of both residents and business owners.

"We want our businesses to succeed and thrive here," Harrison said. "We also want our neighbors to feel comfortable in their homes and not be woken up in the middle of the night by really loud dryers."

Dreeszen declined an on-camera interview, telling CBS Colorado via text, "Out of fear of becoming a nuisance to the city of Wheat Ridge and them taking issue with any comments we may make, which by evidence in the hearing, they need no real reason or proof to revoke our SUP, we don't really want to give them that ammunition."

Despite the ongoing conflict, neighbors say they do not want the business shut down.

"We never really wanted it closed," Facinelli said. "We just always thought there would be a solution, and we could be good neighbors."