WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — If you need to clean your car and get it serviced, it seems like you have more options nowadays. If you want to grab something quick to eat after, there are plenty of options there too.
But some leaders in Warner Robins have growing concerns about these developments.
When the time comes for routine maintenance on your car, Warner Robins' Express Oil Change has you covered.
"We do everything, from changing tires to changing engines. We do oil changes. Tire rotations," Kevin Eakins shared.
Eakins is the manager at the location on Highway 96. If you don't enjoy your service there, you have several nearby options on the same street. This includes the Take 5, right across the street.
"Variety is a great thing. If you come in and you like me, you get to deal with me on a regular basis. If you go to across the street or down the street, I mean everyone likes variety. Just because we have an oil change stop shop right across the street from another one doesn't mean we all do the same thing," Eakins shared.
He says you'll find that others nearby may only specialize in oil change, or offer services that the other shops don't.
"We try to be a one-stop shop for everything. Whether it's tires oil changes," Eakins said.
However, some people around town want a different type of variety and feel similar businesses are taking over most of Warner Robins' development.
"The car convenience is just increasing dramatically," Kate Hogan said.
Hogan is the city's community and economic development director. She says the city has 21 oil change centers and 14 car washes.
Based on maps that she passed out to the city council at their April 15 meeting, you see that many of the oil change facilities sit on the same streets, Highway 96, Highway 247 and Russell Parkway.
Car washes also fall near one another, too.
"We currently don't have any ordinances or codes that would help guide these developments more proactively, that's something mayor and council were exploring at pre-council the other night," Hogan shared.
Hogan says it's all a post-COVID trend.
"We're seeing car convenience when flying wasn't as prevalent and people traveled a little more by car and quick style restaurants. All of our dining rooms closed, so everyone opted-in to free-standing buildings with drive-thrus" she shared.
Some people are also concerned about the number of storage facilities and liquor stores. Now, she says the city is looking for ways to diversify development.
"This is one of the challenges that comes with a growing population and we need to try and make a proactive approach to it," Hogan shared.
We did ask if there were any studies conducted comparing the number of these businesses to similar-sized cities, but Hogan says they haven't because this seems to be a national issue.
She says car washes get 850,000 visitors a year in Warner Robins, and oil change services see 3 million visitors. The city doesn't want to stop these businesses from opening but maybe distance them. Hogan says they want to do find ways to bring in developers who will offer new services.