Commissioners approve Circle K "fueling center" rezone after heated public comment in Romney

Tippecanoe County commissioners on April 7 approved an ordinance to rezone a parcel near the intersection of State Road 28 and U.S. 231 for a Circle K fueling center, voting 3-0 to include a set of commitments from the petitioner designed to limit impacts on nearby homes.

The rezone ordinance (Ordinance 2025-10) passed after several hours of staff presentations, a petitioner’s presentation and extended public comment from residents who said the proposed facility would put headlights, diesel fumes and noise into their yards and threaten private wells and nearby Weill Creek.

County planning staff told commissioners the new “fueling center” classification in the Unified Zoning Ordinance is meant to allow a hybrid use that is neither a conventional gas station nor a full truck stop; the definition limits such facilities to no more than four acres and no more than four semi-truck parking spaces. Planning staff recommended denial based on the site’s proximity to existing houses, saying the use “belongs more kind of on the edge of town.”

Kevin Reilly, attorney for the petitioner, told the board the company expects to capture existing traffic on the two thoroughfares rather than divert trucks to the site. “Our data shows 6,000 semi trucks per day currently travel in that area,” Reilly said, and the petitioner projects “between 26 and 30” semi trucks per day would use high-speed diesel pumps at the site. Reilly said the applicant submitted a lighting plan and a revised site plan that adds buffering and a fence along the west property line and that the petitioner will post signs to prohibit overnight parking.

Several nearby residents spoke in opposition. “You put this truck station in my backyard, we’re stuck,” said Trina Hubert, who told the commissioners her home is about 26 feet from the proposed facility. John Hubert told the board he felt “lied to” after previously being told semi parking would not be located near his house. Resident Marty Anderson raised environmental concerns about runoff reaching the Weill Creek and private wells and said the change would harm property values.

Supporters also spoke. Daryl Burge said a fueling center would restore a use that existed at the corner years ago and would provide convenient diesel service for farm equipment that cannot currently reach pumps at the existing station.

During debate, petitioner representatives agreed to binding commitments attached to the rezone that were added to the motion and included the following elements described at the hearing: - a recorded landscaping commitment including a 3-foot berm, a row of evergreens and shrubs consistent with the county standard and an additional second row of evergreens along the west property line; - a fence along part of the west property line; - a lighting plan intended to direct lighting inside the site footprint; - signage prohibiting overnight parking and allowing staff to limit parking (a 15-minute advisory was discussed for short-term stops); and - a list of prohibited uses (an exhibit of uses that otherwise would be allowed in General Business but will not be permitted on this site, including adult uses and other listed uses).

Commissioners amended the motion to include those commitments and then voted to approve the ordinance and the commitments 3-0. The board recorded the vote as unanimous among the three commissioners present.

The petitioners and several residents noted competing claims about prior procedures: planning staff reported recommending denial to the commissioners, while the petitioner said the Area Planning Commission had issued a positive recommendation. Commissioners did not reopen the Area Planning Commission record; they approved the rezone with the additional, documented commitments.

The approved rezone will allow development under the county’s “fueling center” definition, which limits such facilities to four acres and no more than four semi-truck parking spaces by ordinance. The petitioners and staff said enforcement of parking and noise controls will rely primarily on site signage and operator enforcement, and residents emphasized ongoing concern about enforcement and potential impacts to wells and the creek.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance 2025-10 (Max Convenience Stores LLC / Circle K fueling center) — motion amended to include site commitments; vote 3-0 to approve.

The county clerk will record the signed commitments with the ordinance. Residents and the petitioner noted next steps include any required state approvals for access to State Road 28 and U.S. 231 and implementation of the landscaping, fencing and lighting plans indicated in the commitments.