Council members voted 5-2 in favor of rezoning a lot east of Interstate 470 and south of Interstate 70 to incorporate the national used-car dealer.

Council members Don Reimal, Will Swoffer, Renee Paluka, Jim Page and Mayor Ron Stewart voted in favor, while Jason White and Jim Schultz voted no.

The council cast the same 5-2 vote on amending the redevelopment agreement for Eastland Center.

The meeting did not contain the drama of two weeks ago, when multiple speakers lined up on both sides of the issue and drew a full house in the council chambers at City Hall.

In the end, council members weighed their arguments on the benefits versus the risks of bringing a used-car dealership to an area originally eyed as an office and retail development with restricted uses.

Eastland Center developer Steve Ehrhart continued to promise things Monday, including local union labor jobs and attracting office developments. His promise drew applause from union members who attended the meeting in numbers.

'I won't do anything to hurt the office at Eastland,' Ehrhart said. 'I've not changed my vision with the office at Eastland.'

Tom Curp, a representative of CarMax's national chain, said the Fortune 500 company will be making a $12 million investment in Independence. He expects CarMax to generate $300,000 a year in real-estate taxes.

The King Hershey Law Firm represents CarMax locally. Attorneys Dick King, Bill Moore and Todd Abplanalp kept statements short, referring to CarMax as compatible with Eastland Center's retail and office development.

Citizen John Pennell said he could poke holes in the Independence School District's arguments from last meeting. He said the development would not hurt the state's funding formula for schools.

Also speaking was Bill House, a developer and Blue Springs resident, who said if CarMax doesn't go to Eastland Center, it will locate in Lee's Summit.

Following the citizens' comments, Council Member White said he could not vote in favor of CarMax because he viewed the company's financial promises to be enticements.

'I am uncomfortable we're being approached with enticements of multiple millions of dollars,' White said.

White said he was also concerned about the impact to the vehicle-sales district on Noland Road, dubbed by the car dealers as the Miracle Mile.

Council Member Schultz joined White in dissent, saying used cars would hurt the marketability of Eastland Center.

Mayor Ron Stewart said his decision was tough to make. Stewart said he is friends with auto dealers like Galen Boyer on Noland Road, but he could not vote against the CarMax.

'I've got a lot of dear friends on both sides of the aisle,' Stewart said. 'I've never been convinced that CarMax is going to be detrimental to office development.'

Council Members Paluka and Swoffer spoke highly of the advantages the new business will bring, while Council Member Reimal kept his intentions quiet until the city clerk called for vote. He then voted in favor of the plan.

'This is one issue that I think everyone on the council has fretted over,' Reimal said.

CarMax does not yet have a schedule for construction.