At least 20 citations have been issued to Jax Auto Mart, resulting in close to $2,000 in fines.
"They are employing uses on the property that are not consistent (to those) allowed in the zoning district," City Council Vice President John Crescimbeni said.
The area is zoned a CCG-1 property without an exception, meaning cars cannot be sold from this location but, according to the municipal code compliance division, it is being done and has been for years.
"Some property owners know the system and know how to work it," Crescimbeni said.
Melissa Arnold, who works down the street from the business, said the owner tried to sell her one of his cars.
"He tried to put us in a car for $400 month payments. I’m like, "I could go buy a brand new car off a lot for cheaper than that'," Arnold said. She said she didn’t know that he wasn’t supposed to be doing that.
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"He has been doing this for years and has been getting away with it and beating the system somehow," Arnold said.
The business has a Better Business Bureau accreditation. But Action News Jax found that the business does not have that accreditation and was given an ‘F’ rating.
Since 2002, the city has received 74 complaints related to storage, vehicle repairs or illegal signage.
The city has been trying to find a solution to issuing citations over the years.
Crescimbeni said there is nothing the city can do but continue to cite the owner since it is not a criminal offense
"We have the ability to recover and close business down when we have out of pocket costs, but on citations like this we don't have any out of pocket costs," Crescimbeni said.
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