Gary City Council Planning and Development Committee members on Thursday delayed final action on Ordinance 2025-33, a council‑pending measure to review a special‑use permit for property at 2601 East 15th Avenue in Gary to allow light manufacturing activities related to auto‑body work.

The item drew a public comment urging support for an auto‑shop at the site but warning against using the property to “stockpile vehicles.” A speaker identified in the record as a resident said, “It's hot. And I do understand we do need an auto shop. We have people come into the Hard Rock. Vehicles may be inoperable at that time. This would be a great location for that.”

Council members raised operational and zoning concerns that prompted them to seek clearer permit language before a full vote. Councilman Washington asked that the ordinance include limits on how many inoperable vehicles with substantial damage a single property may have. “But I do wanna ensure that we're not stockpiling vehicles in an effort to have parts or scraps for what other vehicles do pop up,” the councilman said.

City legal staff said there is no existing ordinance that sets such a limit but that one could be drafted. “I don't believe there is a, an ordinance like that, but we certainly could do that citywide,” Attorney Malena said, adding staff could prepare revised language for committee review.

The city attorney also recommended giving the council time to review a new draft rather than attempting revisions on short notice. “Certainly we can do that, Councilman Washington. And I would suggest, I think, maybe let's if we can push it back to the next committee, that way we'll give you a new draft and we can make sure that it meets the concerns of the council,” Attorney Malena said.

Councilwoman Barnes Caldwell asked that the ordinance be limited to the uses under consideration and not expanded with other services. “If it's going to be a car lot, car lot and selling cars, that's it. Mechanical or whatever. Don't bring a car wash onto this next time and ain't nothing else,” she said.

One council member referenced confidence in a colleague involved in the discussion. “We trust Halliburton because something happened with Councilman Halliburton. He's a retired state trooper. I trust him with anything,” Councilman Washington said.

Committee discussion concluded with a plan to return the item at a future meeting. Committee members said the ordinance will come up “at the meeting on the third” and will likely be referred back to committee after the city attorney works with the petitioner on edits; no final vote or formal motion adopting the special‑use permit was recorded during the discussion.

The delayed action leaves the permit request pending while staff and the petitioner prepare revised draft language to address council concerns about vehicle storage, allowable ancillary uses and clear, enforceable limits for the property.