A Take 5 oil change facility is being proposed to be built on a grassy hill leading into the Century Mall in Merrillville from U.S. 30, but questions over access have been raised.
Andy Morrison, representing Take 5 Indiana LLC, told the Merrillville Board of Zoning Appeals that the facility would be located on an access road into the mall property, directly north of Northern Tool and Equipment. He said customers would remain in their car for oil changes. The only other service provided would be oil filter and wiper blade replacement when needed, he said.
While access to the property would be from U.S. 30 onto the access road, Planning and Building director Sheila Shine said customers wouldn’t be able to make a right-hand turn when leaving the property under current conditions.
Morrison said he was working with a property owner about a new drive that would solve that problem, but attorney Greg Bouwer, representing the property owner to the east, Dr. Mark Kendra of MV Investments LLC, said no discussions have taken place and they have no intention of putting a future drive there.
“Dr. Kendra wants to do something special on his property. Our plans would not include a future drive at any time,” Bouwer said.
Karen Caffarini is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
