|
|
Car Recycling Facility Hearing Delayed to Feb 28
(posted Jan 15)
Kathy Minton is grateful for LKQ Indiana's request for continuance because it gives her additional research time to block a car recycling facility from locating adjacent to her property. LKQ is petitioning for rezoning and variance to build a car shredding facility on vacant agricultural land at 8018 W. Washington Street.
Minton said there have been discussions of LKQ withdrawing the petition
in order to use land north of 8018, adjacent to
Countryside Estates on Morris Street. Minton said this would just be moving
the problem north. It does not alleviate the concern that residents rely
on wells for their drinking water. Minton is concerned that LKQ will leave
a brownfield area behind if it moves and create one at its new location.
If the petition is heard at the Feb 28 hearing, Minton plans
to fight the petition over the proposed location of the junkyard along
US 40, a designated historic highway. She said the Indiana Code requires
facilities to be located 1,000 feet back from the road and
screening to block visibility of the site.
LKQ currently has a recycling facility in Avon. The Avon Planning Department said they heard LKQ had applied for a zoning petition in Marion County, but did not know if that meant the company is leaving Avon.
DMD Senior Planner David Hittle said the LKQ has only given a verbal notification
of withdrawing the petition but nothing has happened as of January 14.
Staff is recommending denial of the petition because of its close proximity to residential neighborhoods. He said there are provisions in federal and state law that prohibit junkyards developing on historic roads, but there are many loopholes such as buffering that can skirt the prohibition.
Not referring specifically to this case, Hittle said the DMD does not look at particular sites to direct a developer to go to, but it can be an argument for staff's denial to say there are more appropriate sites in the area that conform to the zoning.
Hittle said if LKQ withdraws the petition and moves to another site it
would require a new permit application.
Jeff Scripture, attorney for LKQ, did not return email correspondence by the paper's deadline.
LKQ's corporate office in Chicago did not return calls for clarification.
|
|
