Council approves special exception for used-car lot at former Brown Building

The Maryville Town Council on a 5-1 vote approved a special exception allowing Luxury Motor Incorporated to operate a used-car dealership on about 2.064 acres at the Brown Building, near I-605.

The approval allows the dealership to operate from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, employ three people initially, and perform on-site carwashing, detailing and oil changes; the council and staff said no engine work will be permitted. The council adopted a condition limiting the use to this petitioner and this location only.

Mark Johnson, the petitioner's representative, said the company operates locations in Illinois and plans Maryville as its first Indiana outlet. "We our committee is called Luxury Motor. We have a lot of store in Illinois and Chicago, and we wanna open some stores here in Indiana," Johnson said. He told the council the business will bring “luxury car with a with a good price.”

Planning staff described the proposal as a special exception under Section 21-136 to allow an auto dealership in a C-2 community commercial zoning district. Staff said the site will be remodeled, the parking lot striped, new exterior signage installed, and no vehicles will be parked on the grass. Council and staff also said the property had been approved for a used-car dealership previously; staff emphasized code enforcement would monitor past issues.

Councilwoman Uslak moved approval; Vice President Neal seconded. On the roll call Vice President Neal, Councilwoman Haynes Edwards, Councilwoman Yuzlock, Councilman Pettit and Council President voted yes; Councilwoman Hardaway voted no. Council staff recorded the tally as five in favor, one opposed. Council minutes and the motion note the approval is "for this petitioner only at this location only and for this use only."

Planning staff told the council they had discussed past code problems at the site and that the petitioner represented that tires and other storage problems that previously prompted violations would not recur. Mark Johnson said, "We we already cleaned everything. We removed all the all the stuff he was have. Gonna do the oil remodeling for the whole building from a to z. We're gonna change everything."

The council did not attach further operating-hour restrictions beyond those described in the petition. Staff said they will monitor compliance with code and the conditions of the special exception.

The petition was deferred briefly earlier in the agenda to ensure the petitioner was present for questions; the petitioner then remained and the council proceeded to a vote.