Rose Thom has always enjoyed watering her plants while looking at her canal in her sunny backyard.
Until, Tommy's Express Car Wash on Santa Barbara Boulevard popped up, being built right in her backyard for the past year.
"Every day that's all you heard was 'boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom' through your walls," Thom said. "It's really devastating it would be allowed on top of residential."
She's worried her property value will decrease with a car wash as her neighbor. She is also very concerned about the sound of dryers being loud when it opens.
"I mean, the noise is going to be the most detrimental," Thom said.
Plus, she thinks there will be added traffic, and she can already see the bright lights that shine at night.
It's not just residents being affected by car washes in the area.
Lory Locy, Barnacles Car Wash owner, said she loves owning a self-serve car wash. However, she said with so many automatic ones popping up in Cape Coral, it's tough on business. There are at least 17 car washes in a five-mile radius from here.
"It's a struggle," Locy said. "It's been a struggle."
But why so many? Cape Coral Mayor John Gunter said it's good for the businesses.
"It's a good business venture for the private sector," Gunter said. "The only benefit we get is the property tax."
The city recognizes the issue, which is why a moratorium is in place. It includes many rules for new car washes, including adding additional buffering near residential homes, putting mechanical equipment indoors, and making car washes a mile apart from each other.
"It will probably benefit an individual, existing car wash only because there's a one-mile restriction," Gunter said. "So, it's not like they could have competition across the street."
However, Locy doesn't think the changes will help business because there are already so many built.
"We have numerous car washes within a mile of us now, so I don't think it's going to help," Locy said.
Thom thinks there should be a five-mile radius, at least. She said the reasoning behind why there are so many is unfortunate.
"We're tired of it being just all about business and tax dollars," Thom said. "We pay our tax dollars here in the city, and they should all listen to what the people want, not what the businesses want."