A site plan for a proposed Speedway gas station and truck stop in Pierceton will be introduced to the Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals next month.

A proposed gas station and truck plaza in Pierceton will go before the Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals on Tuesday, Aug. 13. If approved, it would be only the second semi-refueling station between Fort Wayne and Plymouth.

WEIHE Engineering firm out of Indianapolis has developed a plan for the Speedway complex, proposed to sit at the northwest corner of U.S. 30 and SR 13. According to Matt Sandy, assistant county planner, “Based on the conversations I have had with them, it appears they are purchasing the entire 15.5 acre tract on the northwest corner of the intersection of SR 13 and U.S. 30, however, they are only developing a portion of the ground.”

The petition, to be heard Aug. 13, asks for an Exception for the purpose of allowing an auto service building (truck stop and gas station) in a commercially zoned district.

An initial site plan presented to the Area Plan Commission shows five fuel stations for semi tractor-trailers and seven stations for passenger vehicles in addition to a large building that will house a convenience store.

Sandy said the plan was originally set to be heard by the BZA last month, but Speedway officials and engineers with WEIHE were still working out logistics with the Indiana Department of Transportation concerning access off of the two highways. The current site plan calls for two access points on SR 13 and one just west of SR 13 along U.S. 30. (see diagram).

INDOT spokeswoman Mary Foster said the highway department’s permitting department is awaiting results of a traffic impact study before approving or acting on the proposal.

Thus far, a representative of WEIHE Engineers has not yet returned our call for information.