Board clears way for a used car lot

A used car sales business in Portland is one step closer to opening. 

Portland Board of Zoning Appeals approved a special exception Tuesday night for Matt Miller to sell used vehicles at 133 E. Votaw St. 

The property is already home to Bloom’s Discount Store — owned by Miller’s mother Susan Bloom — and is zoned as central business. Miller Automotive will use the existing office space on the property and will be open during Bloom’s regular business hours. 

The zoning adjustment is one of the requirements for getting a dealer’s license, and Miller will open the business after he obtains it. 

He told the board he only plans to sell cars that are in good working condition. He also won’t work on the vehicles there, but at his private garage at home.  

“I don’t plan on having more than six to eight vehicles at a time,” Miller said. “Not going to have like, cars that don’t run or anything like that. Everything will be ready to go if it’s parked there.”

The board approved the special exception but added a stipulation that it was only applicable to Miller. If he sells his business, moves or shuts down and someone else wants to sell cars on the property, they would also have to apply for the exception.

Miller is currently selling several of his family’s privately owned vehicles on the property.