LaPorte County board approves variance to allow two automotive businesses at former fire station on West Johnson Road

The LaPorte County Board of Zoning Appeals on Aug. 19 approved a use variance to allow two automotive businesses to operate from a former fire-station building at 305 West Johnson Road in Center Township.

Aubrey Gerke, representing RJ’s Boosted Performance LLC and TK Repairs LLC, told the board the proposed operation would be largely appointment-based and would specialize in routine and higher-end vehicle maintenance for makes including Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche and Lexus. She described a 5,800-square-foot building with five garage bays, a separate 1,000-square-foot structure for tire work, and business hours listed in the application as Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Gerke said she had collected roughly 150–175 signatures in favor and cited Indiana Department of Transportation counters showing about 10,521 cars per day past the site as of 2024.

Opponents, including attorney Anthony Novak (who said he represents Legacy Corporation and Legacy Lane LLC), and several nearby residents urged denial. Novak argued the proposed automotive activity is not permitted in the residential zoning classification and said the petitioner bears the burden to meet the five elements for a use variance. Novak also raised noise and environmental concerns and said "about 15 to 20 property owners in the immediate area" have a collective investment of roughly $8,000,000 that could be affected.

Neighbors described specific impacts they feared. Robert Bloom, president of the nearby condominium homeowners association, said many residents are retired and that pneumatic impact wrenches and similar shop noise would travel the 50 feet to the complex. Susan Bloom cited school-bus traffic on Johnson Road and said cars backing out of the bays could create a hazard. Another neighbor, an architect who identified himself as living across the golf course, said a neurologist’s procedure room sits at the property line and warned that loud work could disrupt sensitive medical procedures.

Supporters of the business included James Jones, a nearby tenant who described the operators as conscientious, and Major Patrick Cicero of the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office, who urged the board to "give them a chance," noting that corridor already carries significant vehicular activity and saying environmental controls are regulated in Indiana.

Attorney Christopher Willoughby, appearing for the property owner, argued the site has a commercial history as a fire station and said the parcel may qualify as a nonconforming commercial use that could lawfully change to another nonconforming use. He pointed the board to the county’s nonconforming-use provisions (Article 29) and to Section 14-05 for conditions, and suggested the board could approve the variance with conditions to address neighbors’ concerns: fully enclosed work, no outside storage of tires or parts, buffering and limits on signage.

After questions from board members about staffing, sign size and noise mitigation, a board member moved to approve "the exception as presented with the hours operation that are in our packet and to remove the LED light on the sign." The motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. The board announced the motion passed. The applicant said she would comply with the sign restriction and the hours listed in the application.

Next steps: the decision grants the use variance with the recorded conditions; the board noted enforcement mechanisms exist if permitted conditions are not followed and that complaints would be handled by county enforcement channels.