Wheaton changes law to keep car dealership in town

Cars at dealerships can be used but their sites can't be abused under a new law in Wheaton designed to accommodate a once-major contributor to the city's sales tax revenues.

On average, Packey Webb Ford funneled about $200,000 in sales tax to city coffers in recent years. But that was new-car money.

The dealership is now a used-car sales hub along Roosevelt Road after more than four decades as a new-car business.

The dealership made the conversion and started advertising it before city officials even realized what was going on. Beyond that, it was against the law. Wheaton's code required new car sales to be part of any dealership.

Until now.

Rather than potentially force Packey Webb out of the city, elected officials this week decided to change the law.

The new law essentially makes it OK for Packey Webb to do what it's already done while making it hard for more used-car dealerships to set up shop in town. For instance, the law requires used car dealerships to have a minimum of four acres of contiguous land.

That would prohibit, say, an abandoned gas station lot from becoming a used-car dealership.

A large used-car operation of the size of a CarMax would be tough to open in town because it would be unlikely a dealership could piece together such a large land parcel.

City Manager Don Rose acknowledged the law was changed to accommodate Packey Webb's needs.

"They have a lot invested in that site," Rose said. "And they have a viable business ongoing over there. They certainly seem committed to continuing that operation at least until they decide what their ultimate plan is."

Rose said both Packey Webb and the city will watch to see if the used car dealership proves profitable enough to remain open and part of Wheaton. Rose said he doesn't expect the operation will generate as much sales tax revenue for the city as the dealership has in the past.