Montgomery County passes bill to restrict
larger cleaners
The Montgomery County Council recently
passed a new zoning amendment that will require drycleaning
companies larger than 3,000 sq. ft. to be located in industrial
areas, away from smaller cleaning companies in commercial
districts.
The council adopted the measure by a vote
of 6 to 3 in late March. Those in favor included members Nancy
Floreen (D-At Large), Michael Knapp (D-Upcounty), Tom Perez
(D-Silver Spring) George Leventhal (D-At Large) and Council
President Michael L. Subin (D-At Large) and Vice President
Steven A. Silverman (D-At Large), who both introduced the bill.
Council members Phil Andrews
(D-Gaithersburg), Marilyn Praisner (D-Eastern County) and
Howard A. Denis (R-Potomac-Bethesda) all opposed the
legislation, citing that more time should be devoted to
studying the details of the complex zoning issue.
“The rationale for the zoning text
amendment is primarily to address concerns which have been
raised about potential proliferation of large drycleaning
establishments in Montgomery County,” said Council Vice
President Silverman.
Silverman emphasized that the bill would
not affect existing drycleaners, and that those companies would
be able to sell their businesses in the future to other
drycleaning or laundry establishments.
An amendment to the legislation will delay
its implementation for 90 days, so any cleaning companies
already in the process of being sold will have sufficient time
to close the deal.
Zoning issues have sparked a bitter debate
in the area between mom-and-pop drycleaners and larger discount
operations that have popped up locally in recent years.
The Korean-American Dry-cleaners
Association of Greater Washington, which represents about 2,000
cleaners in the greater Washington, D.C. area, has lobbied area
lawmakers, claiming that small cleaning businesses are in
danger of being eliminated by their big business counterparts.
Similar legislation was passed in 2002 in
Fairfax and Prince George’s counties, resulting in a
restriction of larger plants opening up in residential and
commercial areas.
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Equipment Open House set for May
Blue Ribbon Industries is gearing up for
its 2nd Annual Open House and Equipment Show, planned for the
weekend of May 17 and 18 at the company’s warehouse and
offices at 2629 Belgrade St. in Philadelphia, PA.
Live demonstrations of Böwe Permac
drycleaning machines and Sankosha finishing equipment will
highlight the event.
Representatives from Blue Ribbon,
Böwe and Sankosha will all be present to demonstrate the
equipment and answer questions from attendees.
There will also be discussions on spotting
and wetcleaning, as well, and demonstrations of GreenEarth.
Attendees will also have the chance to see
additional equipment that is distributed by Blue Ribbon,
including pressing equipment that is rebuilt from the ground up
at the company’s warehouse location.
For more information, contact Blue Ribbon
by calling (215) 423-8770.
