Council approves special-use permits for two Fifth Avenue car lots, corrects property listings
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Summary
The Gary Common Council voted 9-0 to approve two special-use permits for auto-dealership operations at addresses on West Fifth Avenue, amending one ordinance to correct a numeric address and making a separate correction to a zoning-code reference in the other ordinance; council members urged ongoing compliance and better site upkeep.
The Gary Common Council on July 1 approved two ordinances granting special-use permits for auto-dealership operations on West Fifth Avenue, voting 9-0 on both measures after amendments to correct personnel and drafting errors.
Council members amended CPO 2025-34 to correct the property address from 3930 to 3980 West Fifth Avenue; the council then passed the amended ordinance on a 9-0 roll call. A separate ordinance, CPO 2025-38, for a special-use permit at 4900 West Fifth Avenue (petitioner Amani Musla) likewise received a 9-0 vote after an amendment corrected the zoning-code reference and a typographical error in the ordinance text.
Attorney Malina provided the council with the background on both requests, saying both properties had been used as auto dealerships and were brought into compliance after appearing before the Board of Zoning Appeals on May 8, 2025. “When it was heard in front of the board of zoning appeals, they did find favorably, that a special use permit should be recommended,” Malina said. She also told the council that the board had not placed conditions on the approvals at that time.
Council members used the floor discussion to emphasize enforcement and site appearance. Councilman Oliver expressed skepticism about the long-term upkeep of Fifth Avenue lots and said the council should protect buyers, especially young buyers who may be less experienced with used-car purchases. Councilman Washington and others urged the zoning and planning bodies to place stricter preconditions so properties arrive before the council in cleaner, more compliant condition.
Council members asked petitioners and future auto-dealership applicants to maintain lots and signage. “If it’s an auto dealership, it needs to look like an auto dealership, not a junkyard,” Council President Latham said during floor remarks.
Procedural details: both items were amended by substitution on the council floor and passed with unanimous roll-call tallies of nine yes votes and no recorded no or abstain votes. Neither ordinance, as passed in the meeting, contained additional conditions added on the council floor; council members and staff said compliance monitoring would continue through the planning and code-enforcement process.
The ordinances were recorded as CPO 2025-34 (amended to show 3980 West Fifth Avenue) and CPO 2025-38 (4900 West Fifth Avenue, petitioner Amani Musla).