Board approves special exception for used car dealership at former Subaru site; on-site repairs limited to dealer vehicles

The Town of Merrillville Board of Zoning Appeals voted 5-0 to approve a special exception (case Z6E4-0325) allowing a used car dealership at 1777 West 80th Avenue, the site of a now-vacant former Subaru dealership.

The petitioner, Ahmad Mahmood (who said he goes by "Andy"), told the board he plans to operate a high-end used car business, High End Motors, at the location. He said the facility previously housed a new-car dealership and that the site can accommodate a large inventory. A staff report said the petitioner expects to hold approximately 200 to 220 vehicles on site and to employ about 10 to 15 people. The proposed service department would include eight service bays for oil changes, tire rotations, alignments and similar maintenance; staff and the petitioner clarified engine and transmission replacements were not planned as part of routine outside work.

Board members asked whether the site had been vacant long and whether the dealership would perform service for outside customers. The applicant said the site had been empty for more than a year and that, as approved by the board, repairs would be limited to the dealer's own inventory and vehicles the dealer sold; the board explicitly limited approval to repairs on the applicant's vehicles. "We'll send it to the auction," Mahmood said when asked about vehicles that are not resold.

No members of the public stepped forward during the public-comment periods. After discussion, a motion to approve the special exception for this use at this location only, with the condition that repairs be limited to the dealership's own vehicles, passed unanimously.

Staff told the petitioner they will advise when the item is scheduled for Town Council consideration and directed the petitioner to follow up with zoning staff on permit signatures.