Plan Commission continues Ray Skillman preliminary plat and approves Kia, Hyundai development plans

The Whitestown Plan Commission on the same night continued the Ray Skillman preliminary plat to the next meeting but approved detailed development plans for both a Ray Skillman Kia and a Ray Skillman Hyundai dealership on a site adjacent to Indianapolis Road and Whitestown Parkway.

Adam Dehart, project manager with Keilar Webb Associates, told the commission the project will occupy approximately 32 acres on the south portion of a cultivated field, with Lot 1 for the Hyundai dealership, Lot 2 a stormwater-detention pond to serve both dealerships, and Lot 3 for the Kia dealership. Dehart said the two dealership buildings will each be roughly 30,000–31,000 square feet, with showroom, mechanical repair bays for non-body work and customer parking. "We are not gonna be doing, any planned body shop work at this facility," Dehart said.

Dehart said the project includes construction of a new road (Ray Skillman Way) across the project frontage and upgrading Indianapolis Road where the site intersects it. He described design elements such as added lane width, a passing blister, and compliance with Whitestown and NDOT standards and the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The team said construction plans include notes limiting disruptive work on Sundays to avoid conflict with Traders Point Christian Church.

A resident, Kevin Russell of 6123 Golden Eagle Drive, told the commission he supports the dealership as a use for the property but urged road improvements on Indianapolis Road and asked the town and developers to help any existing local auto-service business that might be affected. Russell had earlier spoken during public comment about broader congestion around Indianapolis Road and Cardinal Estates, saying: "If it cannot be improved with a roundabout, then a traffic light will need to be put there at the minimum."

Town staff reported that a primary-plat staff report was not available in the packet for the preliminary plat, so the commission voted to continue the preliminary plat (PC 25-017-PP) to the next meeting to allow staff review. The commission then voted to approve the Ray Skillman Kia development plan (PC 25-015-DP) and the Ray Skillman Hyundai development plan (PC 25-016-DP) "based on the staff report and staff recommendations and the submitted findings of fact." The chair recorded the motions as approved on voice vote; seven commissioners had been present at roll call.

During discussion commissioners and staff emphasized that the town's engineering standards and the MUTCD guided traffic improvements; staff said a center turn lane was considered but had not been identified as required by the traffic studies submitted for this project. Staff and the petitioner said the design meets Whitestown specifications. The petitioners estimated construction could start within a month after final approvals and permitting and said both dealerships could be open to sell vehicles within about 12–13 months.

The commission required no additional conditions beyond staff recommendations and continued the preliminary plat to allow staff to provide a missing primary-plat report before the commission takes final action on that item.