Whitestown plan commission approves concept plans for Ray Skillman Kia and Hyundai relocation

Whitestown Plan Commission members voted to approve concept plans for two Ray Skillman dealerships to relocate from Pike Plaza in Indianapolis to a portion of a 32-acre property on Indianapolis Road.

The commission granted concept-plan approval for PC25-005-CP (Ray Skillman Kia) and PC25-006-CP (Ray Skillman Hyundai) after staff concluded both submissions met the Unified Development Ordinance's concept-plan requirements.

The projects would develop about 16 acres of a 32-acre parcel owned by Hockett Real Estate. Adam DeHart, project manager with Keller | Webb Associates, told commissioners the Hyundai showroom would sit on Lot 1 at the southwest corner fronting Indianapolis Road, a stormwater detention pond would occupy a narrow Lot 2, and the Kia dealership would occupy Lot 3 along Interstate 65. DeHart said the Kia building is planned as a two-story, roughly 30,500-square-foot facility and the Hyundai building as a similar facility of about 31,900 square feet.

"We are intending to develop the 16 acres by parallel lines off the south," DeHart said, describing internal access and infrastructure plans. He said the development will include a new roadway—Ray Skillman Way—sanitary sewer extensions and stormwater detention routed to the existing outlet near the roundabout at Whitestown Parkway.

Town planning staff summarized the submissions and recommended approval. "The staff has reviewed the concept plan and believes that it meets all of the requirements of a concept plan and therefore staff is recommending approval," a town planner said during the meeting.

Commissioners asked about specific site elements: an accessory building to store batteries will serve both dealerships, lighting will comply with the ordinance and downward-facing photometrics were submitted, and landscaping will use an alternative layout that shifts required planting to preserve vehicle display visibility. DeHart said no body shop is proposed and repair bays will be located at the rear of each site.

Both motions—one for the Kia concept plan and one for the Hyundai concept plan—were moved and seconded on the record and passed by the commission. The applicants will return to the commission with detailed development plans for final design and ordinance compliance.

Details recorded in the commission packet and staff report show the Kia concept plan described approximately 600 parking/display spaces and the Hyundai plan described approximately 450 parking/display spaces; both lots are zoned General Business, which allows car dealerships.

The commission's approvals were for concept-plan stage only; final site layout, landscaping, lighting controls and building elevations will be reviewed during the detailed development plan process.