Proposed Car Recycling Facility Raises Concerns


(posted Dec 8)


For the residents living on West Hamblen Drive, their views of 35 acres of agriculture could drastically change to a car recycling facility if the zoning and variance use are granted to LKQ Indiana.

Kathy Minton, 1814 W. Hamblen Drive, is determined to fight the petitioner by organizing the neighborhood and gathering petition signatures. Minton was able to have the hearing continued from November 29 to January 10.

Minton wants the area to remain agricultural to protect the existing wildlife of deer and fox. She is also concerned that proposed construction would induce more water run off to the flood prone area. She said the area flooded in the 2003 Labor Day Storm. She is also concerned that a car recycling facility could contaminate the soil with car fluids that could eventually leach into the drinking water since the area's water source is well water. Minton filed a notice with the Department of Natural Resources to see if the construction is in a flood plain since Julia Creek and Thompson Creek flow through the property.

Another concerned is the Indiana Bat, which was discovered at the Indianapolis International Airport and resulted in habitat creation during the United Airlines maintenance hub construction in the 1990s.

For the last ten years, Indiana State University has been studying the Indiana Bat in the southwest area of the airport. John O. Whitaker, Jr. of ISU's Center for North American Bat Research and Organismal Biology, said "the study is one of the longest running, most detailed study on that species." Whitaker said that he is not sure if bat habitat has been in the proposed development area. He noted for the last two years that bats have not migrated north of I-70 into the US 40 area.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service said if the Indiana Bat is discovered on the property, the private developers would need a permit under the Habitat Conservation Plan.

Marty Benson, DNR public information officer, explained the Indiana Bats hibernate in caves during the winter so they would not be detected in the trees where they are normally found during the rest of the year.

The January 10 meeting will focus on zoning with the Metropolitan Development BZA Hearing Examiner. Department of Metropolitan Development Public Information Officer Angela Nussmeyer explained the site is currently zoned commercial special with the eastern side zoned dwelling agricultural, the comprehensive plan calls for airport related mixed use development. Airport Related Mixed-Use is to allow for industrial and commercial development compatible with airport development. "The land use category is intended as a buffer between airports and more sensitive land uses."

Nussmeyer indicated that DMD planning staff has not made a recommendation about the project as of date. The proposed project will recycle cars by a crushing process instead of shredding. The activity will be in a fully enclosed building, but that does not give Minton relief as she is concerned about future noise and the potential view of demolished cars.

Attorney Jeff Scripture, representing LKQ Indiana, explained "LKQ must meet a stringent set of environmental regulations for each facility. I know that IDEM inspects all Indiana facilities on a yearly basis."

IDEM Public Information Officer Steve Polston said IDEM does not have any permits filed by LKQ pertaining to the site as of date.