Gary City council schedules public hearing for proposed convenience store and fuel station amid zoning, environmental and safety questions

The Gary City Council on an agenda item concerning a proposed convenience store with fueling set a public hearing for March 18, after council members requested additional information on comparable stations, zoning allowances and environmental concerns.

Council members pressed the petitioner and City Attorney Molina for details about other similar stations in nearby communities and about neighborhood responses; Attorney Molina said staff would provide addresses and B1 allowable-use information by email. President Latham, citing the B1 limited retail district, listed possible non-gas uses for the site as examples of what the zoning would permit if the station were not approved.

Why it matters: The petition touches on land-use questions (special use in residential-area zoning), local public-safety concerns and potential environmental cleanup obligations tied to underground fuel tanks. Council members emphasized both neighborhood amenity potential and the need to avoid placing hazardous uses where soil or groundwater risk exists.

Council and staff questions and clarifications came before the council agreed to schedule a public hearing so the community can comment. Attorney Molina confirmed that one nearby resident attended the previous council meeting to oppose the petition and that signed petitions exist. Council members asked Molina to provide addresses of comparable stations in Maryville and Crown Point for review before the hearing; Molina agreed to email that information to council.

Council members also raised two recurring issues: environmental remediation at former or abandoned stations and on-site security. A petitioner representative described plans for 24-hour surveillance cameras and said private security could be hired if needed. Council members noted two stations across the street were “not in use” and asked about the previous owner’s plans and potential underground-tank remediation. Attorney Molina and council members said the applicant’s purchase is contingent on obtaining the zoning approval.

President Latham and others reviewed B1 district limits, noting B1 allows smaller pedestrian-oriented retail (under about 12,500 square feet) and listing examples: "florist shops, book and stationery stores, custom dress making, tailor shops, a pharmacy," and other neighborhood-serving uses. Attorney Molina said she would email the council a list of allowable B1 uses.

The council also asked for follow-up with the three commissioners who abstained on an earlier related vote. No final approval or formal special-use decision was recorded at the meeting; the only formal action on this agenda item in the record was agreement to set a public hearing on March 18 so the public may comment.

Next steps: Council staff will provide the requested list of comparable station addresses and B1 allowable uses to council members before the March 18 public hearing. The hearing will give the community another opportunity to speak for or against the special-use request.