Wake Forest, N.C. — The drought has dried up prospects of a new business in Wake Forest. For the time being, the town won't allow a new car wash to open its doors.

Asking for a car wash permit in the middle of a drought “was bad timing,” Town Commissioner Margaret Stinnett said.

By a 3 to 2 vote, Wake Forest commissioners turned down the request, for now. Stinnett said the town is taking Governor Easley's water conservation request seriously.

“I think we all want to bathe and wash our clothes [and] have drinking water as opposed to having a clean car,” Stinnett said.

Stephen Barrington, whose term as commissioner expired shortly after the commission's decision, said he thinks the town would actually conserve more water by putting in the car wash.

The car wash is supposed to be state-of-the-art, recycling water and using less water than if people were to wash their cars at home.

“The waste that takes place when once washes their car is significant,” Barrington said. "This sort of car wash in particular would have downsized the actual loss of the water.”

The proposal will come up again in six months. The question is whether the drought will still be there.

The two commissioners who voted in favor of the car wash's special use permit both had their terms expire last week. The town's planning board has already recommended its approval.