The opening of a new Tommy’s Express Car Wash planned for the corner of M-139 and Napier Avenue in Benton Township has been delayed.

The Benton Township Board of Trustees was told on Tuesday the delay is due to construction scheduled on both M-139 and Napier next year.

While the news may disappoint some potential Tommy’s customers, Cornerstone Alliance’s Greg King told trustees it brings with it another problem. He said Tommy’s is asking that a 12-year Commercial Facilities Tax Exemption granted by the township to the business last year be delayed to December of 2026 to reflect the new schedule.

Township Supervisor Cathy Yates told us the upcoming construction would make a smooth opening too difficult for the car wash.

“I’m excited about the car wash and I do know that MDOT is going to be doing some work there,” Yates said. “It’s major work down on M-139, and that’s why the delay.”

But Yates said bumping that tax break back isn’t a problem and the project remains a win for the township.

“I think it’s going to be a great one for the township. I feel our residents will use it because they’ll be able to buy monthly passes and go every day and get their car washed if they choose to do so.”

Trustees agreed to the delay. They were told because Tommy’s operates on a membership basis, it’s pretty important for its members to be able to access the business unencumbered. So, the company will just wait out that road construction.

The Commercial Facilities Tax Exemption will give the company a 50% property tax reduction for 12 years once it opens. That’ll amount to about $62,000 per year saved on taxes to help it recoup a more than $5 million investment.