Area Planning Commission urges county council to deny rezoning of Speedway site after public uproar over rare Black Oak savannah

The Saint Joseph County Area Planning Commission on Sept. 17 voted to recommend the County Council deny a rezoning request from Indiana Auto Auction (IAA) that would convert the former South Bend Speedway property along State Road 2 into a vehicle auction and storage yard.

Commissioners voted to send an unfavorable recommendation on the rezoning (APC 3050‑24) and on the related special‑use permit after a combined public hearing that drew dozens of residents, conservationists and scientists who described the southern half of the 58.8‑acre parcel as a remnant Black Oak savannah of high ecological value.

Staff presented the petition, noting approximately 30 acres have hosted the racetrack use and that the petitioner seeks to rezone the full site to commercial, add a special use for an auto wrecking/auction yard and request two variances. Staff said the petitioner proposed written commitments limiting on‑site disassembly, maintenance and crushing of vehicles, requiring pre‑delivery leak checks and ongoing monitoring, and recommended approval of the rezoning and special use subject to those commitments. Staff also reported six written remonstrances and about 40 emails/phone calls to the county council opposing the proposal.

IAA’s counsel and technical team described the company’s nationwide environmental and operational approach. Attorney Richard Nussbaum said the company would operate the site in an “as‑is” auction model and that the written commitments would be recorded and “run with the land,” binding future owners. Dean Sturmer, IAA development manager, described truck turning designs intended to keep the largest vehicles off State Road 2 and estimated a combined truck load of about 50 vehicles per day across two nearby IAA sites. Tracy Miller, IAA environmental compliance manager, said the company conducted a Phase I environmental assessment and follows stormwater and spill‑response practices used at its other branches.

But public testimony was strongly negative and detailed. Environmental scientists, local naturalists, wildlife‑ and bird‑watching organizations, township officials and…