Bayfield planning commissioners have approved a bulk laundry service for Orchard Drive, just off Clover Drive.
They approved the use by review for Sun Linen Services on April 14. The property is zoned for light and medium industrial uses.
The owners are Rob and Wendy Bitner, and Edin and Thalia Ramos. According to their project narrative, the business will serve Four Corners area hospitals and other health care entities. They plan to lease the space.
"The concept was developed by a group of locals with over 30 cumulative years of healthcare experience in the Four Corners area," the project narrative says. "Currently, laundry services are being delivered out of Grand Junction," so they are affected by road and weather conditions.
Planning commission chair Joe Mozgai was surprised there is no one local providing the service.
Rob Bitner said they plan to have two employees initially and hope to add a couple more in a year.
They plan to expand utilities, including natural gas and three-phase electric service, to support four to six commercial washing machines, two to four commercial driers, an ironing machine, and an additional hot water heater.
They anticipate initial water use at 24,000 gallons per month. "At peak operations, 24 to 36 months from start-up, water usage is estimated to be 50,000 gallons per month," the narrative says. Chemicals will include "detergent containing surfactants and enzymes, bleach containing hydrogen peroxide, and laundry softener. None of these products have a DOT hazardous material classification."
The narrative refers to six employees at peak operation. But Edin Ramos told planning commissioners, "My dream is to have 20 employees, to grow that big. Once we get the authorization, we'll start working, and we hope to start taking linen on June 29."
Town Manager Chris La May said, "One item that caused some concern was possible phosphates in the waste water... The town engineer is recommending a sampling port for waste water" to track what's going into the sewer plant.
"Sewer is what we scrutinized the most," La May said. The business will have to pay $6,600 for an additional sewer Equivalent Residential Tap (ERT). They also will have to reserve additional ERTs for the projected peak use.
