The South Bend Common Council on Aug. 25 approved a special‑exception petition to permit a minor vehicle service use at 1527 South Michigan Street, a property with a long history as an automobile dealership.

Staff zoning specialist Tim Staub said the site is in a Neighborhood Center zoning district and had been used for automobile service through at least 2022; the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Committee of the Whole recommended approval. Petitioners David Salaen and property owner Ferris Farhan presented a revised plan after tabling the matter in a prior meeting, saying they had met neighborhood leaders and secured community support.

Petitioners told the council they had made property repairs, including a $30,000 rubber roof and new exterior doors, and described proposed operations as a minor auto shop offering oil changes, basic repairs and diagnostics for passenger vehicles. They said hazardous materials would not be stored on site, that they would remove abandoned vehicles and debris, and that business hours would be roughly 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. to limit noise and disturbance.

The owners reported informal outreach showing more than 25 supporting residential neighbors and eight nearby businesses; they also presented a letter of support from the SOAR Neighborhood Association after attending its Aug. 12 meeting. As part of the council’s recommendations, petitioners said they were applying for a facade grant to repaint the exterior, replace siding and install signage and lighting if awarded.

Council members praised the petitioners’ follow‑through, neighborhood engagement and property cleanup. Councilmember Thomas Morgan and others said neighborhood plans matter but that community buy‑in here carried weight in their votes.

At third reading the council voted to pass Bill 40‑25. Clerk Dorado recorded nine ayes and no nays; the ordinance will move forward per standard processing.