An artist’s rendering of the Luv Car Wash, Express Service and pre-owned dealership project slated for Bennett Road.

Lower water and sewer rates in the town of Pomfret are already beginning to make a splash when it comes to development.

William McFadden, who owns the 2-acre site that was previously a Tops Express location across from Walmart, announced that Luv Car Wash, Luv Express Service and Luv Pre-Owned Auto Dealership will be built at 10398 Bennett Road. He says it will create 22 jobs and “revolutionize the car wash industry.”

McFadden said the $3 million project, which is targeted to open around mid July, almost did not happen due to high water and sewer rates that had been contractually agreed to by the town through the village of Fredonia. However, a new deal that was negotiated between the two municipalities in March was the key to the project starting.

“The prices were way out of line,” McFadden said, noting the town was paying about three times that of the village. “It just didn’t make good business sense.”

Pomfret Supervisor Dan Pacos was credited by McFadden for having a role in the project becoming a reality. “I am thrilled to finally be moving ahead on this exciting project,” McFadden said. “We are now fast-tracked to be up and running by end of summer. Without Dan’s ability to reduce the water and sewer prices so substantially, I honestly don’t think this would be happening.”

Last Wednesday’s groundbreaking was for the Luv car wash. The 10,000-square-foot auto showroom — the original building with an addition on each side — has already been renovated. McFadden said total cost of the development, including renovations, buildings and all site work, will approach $3 million.

Building on a similar success in Lakewood, McFadden’s Fredonia car wash will be “as state-of-the-art as you can get anywhere in the U.S.” with lava foam, an LED show, soft brushes, spot free rinses, “complete dry” blowers, and a “green” water reclaim system.

He said the facility will be capable of washing up to 100 cars per hour, double the number of the Lakewood location, reflecting Fredonia’s high-traffic location just off the state Thruway and Route 60. Prices will start at $6 for a basic wash with club member pricing of $15 a month for unlimited washes.

McFadden said the new water and sewer fees will be $200,000 less for the business. For Pacos, the pricing is an important tool in the town’s arsenal to attract new businesses and keep existing ones. “I’m confident it’s going to make a big difference,” Pacos said. “If the rates are lower, water use will be higher. It’s a win-win.”