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Merrillville board allows mechanic shop at 5960 Broadway with 20-day vehicle condition
Summary
The Board of Zoning Appeals approved a special exception to allow a full-service mechanic shop at 5960 Broadway in a C-2 district with conditions limiting parking to customers, banning overnight dealer overflow and requiring removal of abandoned vehicles after 20 days.
The Town of Merrillville Board of Zoning Appeals approved special exception Z1E1-0125 to allow a full-service mechanic shop at 5960 Broadway.
Attorney Adam Swarden, representing petitioner Ahmad Zeglu, said the site is the former USA Muffler and Transmission (a repair facility) and that the proposed use would operate as a full-service automotive repair business. Staff said the property is in a C-2 community commercial district on about 0.049 acres and outlined permitted services, including diagnostics, engine work, exhaust, electrical and routine maintenance; the petitioner committed to no painting or body work.
The petitioner agreed that mechanic-shop parking would be limited to customers and vehicles being serviced; he said there will be no overnight parking for dealership overflow. Staff and the petitioner discussed the local problem of vehicles left on-site after repairs; the board added a condition that vehicles deemed abandoned be removed under the statutory process and that no vehicle remain on-site longer than 20 days.
Staff said the site currently provides about 20 parking spaces and that the petitioner plans five employees with hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed Sunday. The petitioner said he would follow required waste-disposal procedures for automotive fluids and keep the site clean and professional.
A motion to approve Z1E1-0125 with the 20-day abandonment condition passed on a roll-call vote; one member was absent. The board chair said the decision will go before the town council as the next step.
