Company petitioning to rezone South Bend Motor Speedway land is working on preservation agreements

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- County Council held a committee meeting Tuesday evening, where they heard from Auto Auction Company on the petition to rezone the South Bend Motor Speedway land, and on a special permit that would allow the company to buy the land.

This comes after dozens of people spoke out against the bill at the last public hearing, most expressing concerns about preserving the Black Oak Savanna located next to the speedway, but within the rezoning area. The community is worried that the land being sold could lead to the destruction of the around 30 acres of rare environment.

In response to those concerns, Attorney for Insurance Auto Auction, Dick Nussbaum, explained at the meeting that the petitioner is working with environmentalist organizations to come to an agreement.

Nussbaum explained they are trying to find a middle ground that both creates protections for the Savanna that minimizes environmental harm, while also maximizing the development so it’s economically feasible.

The rezoning petition was originally brought to the table to change the Motor Speedway land from both commercial and residential, to just commercial, which has to happen for the land to be sold. The company would also need the special use permit to be passed by the council since the business would qualify as an auto wrecking yard since two or more inoperable vehicles will be outside on the property. However, the company has stated they will not be wrecking or disassembling cars.

Nussbaum went on to explain that right now, the Black Oak Savanna is part of the residential zone of the area, which currently does not have protections. He expressed that if an agreement is made with the environmentalist organizations, it will have more protection on the land than it does now.

“It's very important to know that right now there isn't any protection. It's zoned R, and a real estate developer can come in and when real estate developers build home, the tree comes down. That habitat would be gone under those circumstances. So, I think in a strange way as I said, we're the best option at this point for protecting that habitat,” said Nussbaum.

The council ultimately gave no recommendation, either for or against the bill for the upcoming general council meeting on Oct. 8. Insurance Auto Auction says they hope to come to an agreement on land preservation by that meeting, where the final vote on the rezoning and special permit will be cast by the County Council.