The Salem City Council had agreed all summer, passing agenda items and never uttering a "nay." But that streak ended Monday night.

At their scheduled meeting, council members were divided over a special-exception permit that would allow a used car lot to open on a stretch of road lined by several other car dealers.

"I just do not feel like it's the best use for this piece of property," said Vice Mayor John Givens, before voting no. Mayor Randy Foley joined him, but the motion passed by a rare vote of 3-2.

The approval concluded a four-month effort by James Ferguson, who addressed the council Monday, to open his car lot in the 600 block of West Fourth Street in Salem. Following the vote, he said thank you and sat down.

In other business, a special-exception permit was also granted that clears the way for an ITT Technical Institute location to move into Salem's Lee-Hi Business Center.

The Lee-Hi is currently zoned for business and commercial use, but not for a college that grants four-year degrees, as the Indiana-based technical school does.

However, Councilwoman Lisa Garst proposed that a check be put in place requiring ITT Tech to seek council approval if it wants to expand outside its roughly 19,000-square-foot space.

Richard Wellford, a broker for Roanoke's Poe & Cronk Real Estate Group who spoke in support of the permit, bristled at the prospect of having to seek the council's approval in the future. "I'm a little shocked at the resistance, or concern," he said.

But returning to form, the council voted 5-0 to approve the permit.

-- Pete Dybdahl