JIffy Lube proposed for Olney Town Center

A new Jiffy Lube auto maintenance facility could be coming to Olney, if approved by the Montgomery County Planning Board. The business would be located at the northwest corner of the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Olney-Laytonsville Road (MD 108).

Planning staff are recommending approval of the Jiffy Lube, with conditions. Those conditions would include construction of a 10' wide shared-use path along MD 108 in front of the Jiffy Lube, planting of three canopy trees on the property, a bike locker, and one short-term bicycle parking space. Given that Jiffy Lube repairs cars, not bikes, and that I've never met a mechanic who commutes by bicycle(!), one has to wonder who comes up with these things.

The Olney Jiffy Lube will have three service bays, and will be constructed of cinder blocks. Several citizens and civic associations in the area have registered concerns about the proposed facility, including traffic congestion impacts, aesthetics at Olney's major crossroads, the number of parking spaces, and impacts on adjacent businesses like Jerry's Subs and Pizza.

"Jiffy Lube is absolutely unnecessary in Olney, and furthermore, will create an eyesore in our community," long-time Olney resident Hope Millington wrote to planners. Oil will be stored in above-ground tanks, and used oil will be picked up by truck twice a month.

The Planning Board will consider the Jiffy Lube project at its Thursday, September 14, 2017 meeting at 8787 Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring. Public comment on the project will be allowed at the meeting.