Gary City Council reviews special-use permit for gas station at 5310 West Ridge Road

The Gary City Council reviewed a petition from Saeed Isher LLC to allow a gas station and convenience store at 5310 West Ridge Road, a property zoned B31, after a unanimous favorable recommendation from the Board of Zoning Appeals.

Attorney Molina told the council that the petition came to the council from the Board of Zoning Appeals and that the property is zoned B31. "The petitioner appeared in front of the Board of Zoning Appeals on January 9 and by a unanimous vote of 3 to 0 everyone present, there was a favorable recommendation," Molina said. He added that state approval is a separate step: "The state makes that determination."

Why it matters: council members said the site is near existing fuel retailers and raised concerns about neighborhood outreach and site impacts. Councilwoman Linda Barnes Caldwell said she was not informed in advance and opposed the proposed zoning: "I'm not in favor of a gas station being put there, sir. I'm sorry." Councilwoman Ivy noted the parcel contains wooded area that would be cleared for a full-service station and asked how the parcels were being combined for the project.

Mr. Tursman, a representative for the petitioner Saeed Isher LLC, confirmed the plan combines two parcels into a single lot and that the site design includes an on-site detention pond for stormwater management. Molina told the council the BZA found the proposed use would not be detrimental to public health, safety or general welfare and that the site would provide for "access management, ingress and egress so designated as to minimize traffic congestion on the public roads." He also said the proposal was contiguous to an adjacent lot already granted a special use for a gas station and convenience store.

Council members asked whether anyone spoke at the BZA hearing; Molina said only the petitioner testified. Councilman Williams and others referenced an earlier file, CPO 20 2192, noting that a related special-use permit had previously passed on Jan. 18, 2022, according to Molina.

There was no formal council vote recorded in the portion of the transcript provided. The council discussion focused on neighborhood outreach, the existence of nearby gas stations and truck stops, site clearing of wooded areas, and technical site elements such as detention for stormwater. Attorney Molina reminded the council that state review and approval remain a separate oversight step after any local zoning action.

Next steps: the item remained listed as a pending ordinance on the council docket; the transcript does not record a final council decision or vote during the excerpt provided.