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Syracuse City Council holds hearing on revoking special‑use permit for 634 South Geddes Street
Summary
City attorneys told the council that DMV investigations and zoning reports found unroadworthy cars sold and an unpermitted conversion at 634 South Geddes Street; neighbors and employees urged leniency. The public hearing was closed and the council will consider legislation in its regular business.
The Syracuse City Council held a public hearing on a proposal to revoke the special‑use permit for 634 South Geddes Street after zoning and state motor vehicle (DMV) investigations found alleged unauthorized vehicle sales and unpermitted business activity.
Rob Carpenter of the City of Syracuse Department of Law, speaking for the Office of Zoning Administration, summarized the staff report and asked the council to revoke the permit. "As outlined in that report, there have been numerous DMV investigations at this property over the past few years. There continue to be ongoing investigations by the DMV into further sales, currently," Carpenter said. He told the council the investigations found "unroadworthy cars have been sold at the premises" and that one car‑wash bay had been converted into a convenience store without the required permits or licenses.
Several people with ties to the business addressed the council during the public‑comment period. Ian Nemar, who gave his address as 620 Gettys, said he has worked at the site about 15 years and disputed that he currently sells cars from the property. "I'm not trying to get my business shut down," Nemar said, describing contracts to perform detailing, oil changes and tire work for other companies and saying he had closed a dealership he previously operated because of cost.
Employees and neighbors described the business as a low‑cost local service and warned that revocation would harm workers and customers. "If y'all take this business ... I have to go find other mechanic place to feed myself and my little daughter," employee Tyrell London said. Neighboring business owner Mohammed Awad said he stored goods in the garage during a renovation and has not received customer complaints about Nemar.
Council members heard appeals for leniency that emphasized jobs and long local ties; Christopher Baton, who said he has known Nemar for 25 years, urged the council to give Nemar a chance to correct problems.
Carpenter and the zoning report, by contrast, flagged multiple resident complaints and continued DMV activity as grounds for revocation. The presiding officer then closed the public hearing and said the legislation to revoke the special‑use permit would be taken up during the council’s regular order of business at a later meeting.
No vote on the revocation was recorded at the hearing; council action is pending.
