At a meeting of the Gary Common Council Planning and Development Committee, council members reviewed a revised special-use application for property at 2557 Colfax Street that would allow mechanical and auto body work while adding two conditions: installation of a privacy fence facing Colfax Street and a limit of no more than 10 inoperable vehicles on the premises at any time.

Attorney Molina told the committee that the petitioner had addressed concerns raised at an earlier meeting and that the revised ordinance included the two conditions. "He cleaned it up very nicely," Attorney Molina said, describing the petitioner's recent efforts to clear the lot. Molina also said the petitioner provided a receipt showing outstanding property taxes had been paid and that the only remaining payment would be the next November installment.

The committee sought several clarifications. Councilman Kenneth Washington, chairman of the Gary Common Council Planning and Development Committee, asked that photographs of the site be distributed to all council members before the committee's next meeting; Molina agreed to include the photos in the meeting packet. Councilwoman Marion Ivy and others asked to confirm that business signage would be visible from the street; Molina said one picture showed the sign above a garage door and that additional street-view photos would be provided.

Petitioner (business owner) confirmed the current business activity. "As of right now, I'm selling. Yes," the petitioner said when asked whether the business was currently selling vehicles. Committee members pressed for confirmation that taxes were current and for documentation to appear in the packet for the Tuesday meeting.

No formal vote was taken during the discussion. Attorney Molina said that if there were no further comments the committee could submit the revised ordinance for final approval on Tuesday, signaling a next step but not recording a council action at this meeting.

Why it matters: The conditions aim to address neighborhood appearance and property standards while allowing a local business to expand operations to include mechanical and body work.

The committee concluded the discussion by directing staff to include site photographs and the petitioner's tax receipt in the packet for the next meeting and to proceed with submitting the ordinance for final approval if no additional objections are raised.