The Gary Common Council approved a special use permit for a short-term rental in the city during its Monday night meeting.
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Council members Mary Brown, D-3rd, and Kenneth Whisenton, D-at large, were absent. The council met Monday instead of Tuesday because of National Night Out events in Gary.
Council members were also supposed to vote on a second prospective special use permit for a short-term rental property, but Council Vice President Darren Washington, D-at large, asked to lay it on the table — or indefinitely suspend it — during Monday’s meeting. The motion passed in a 7-0 vote.
According to council documents, the approved rental will be at 3654 Buchanan Street, and the city’s Director of Zoning Corrie Sharp said the Gary Plan Commission gave it a favorable recommendation. The property is owned by Des Lofts LLC, according to council documents.
The company owns and operates several vacation rental properties in the Chicago area, according to its website.
The first rental passed in a 6-1 vote. Councilwoman Linda Barnes Caldwell, D-5th, was the lone vote against the ordinance.
Staff gave several conditions for approval of the property, Sharp said, including requiring a general business license and for it to be “maintained and inspected for maintenance and zoning criteria,” which should comply with noise, parking and trash regulations.
All regulations for short-term rentals are laid out in the city’s unified development ordinance, Sharp said.
“Also any expansion or modification of the approved use shall require additional review and approval,” she added.
Before voting on the first property, Washington said he’s “very pleased” with the work the company has put in to rehabilitate some of Gary’s homes.
“We have a lot of vacant properties,” Washington said, “and it’s really good to see people take an initiative to try to rehabilitate those properties, where people can actually become homeowners one day.”