Plan commission approves Natmus vehicle storage building at 1630 Wayne Street with conditions

The Auburn Plan Commission on June 9 approved PC Development Plan 2026-3, clearing the way for the National Automotive Truck Museum to construct a roughly 9,000-square-foot, seven-bay vehicle storage building at 1630 Wayne Street.

Staff described the proposal as a metal, four-sided building with seven north-facing garage doors, pedestrian doors on the east and west facades, a single access point from Wayne Street, and an on-site storm-water detention basin to manage runoff from paved areas. Staff said the site currently contains three residential structures that the applicant proposes to demolish to make room for the building.

"The building itself is a little over 9,000 square foot," the staff member said, noting the site sits in the institutional zoning district and within a wellhead protection overlay. Staff recommended approval, subject to three standard conditions: erosion control measures in place prior to construction, establishing temporal (temporary) measures for employees prior to occupancy, and completing work according to the approved plans.

Don Mismith, treasurer and board member for the museum, told the commission the storage facility was "desperately needed" and that the organization had worked closely with staff to address code requirements. "We just asked it to approve this for us and, uh, it'll be an improvement of that stretch of street," Mismith said.

Two members of the public voiced design concerns but otherwise supported the project. Dan Brun said the proposed structure "complies with UDO at the absolute minimum" and urged the applicant to consider siting and facade changes to avoid a "pole barn" appearance. John Pontius suggested decorative treatments such as a mural facing Wayne Street to better integrate the building into the museum district.

After brief discussion, the commission voted to adopt the findings of fact for PC Development Plan 2026-3 and to approve the development plan with the three staff-provided conditions. The motion carried by voice vote.

Next steps: the applicant must satisfy the three conditions—install erosion-control measures, document temporary employee arrangements before occupancy, and complete construction consistent with the approved plans—before obtaining final clearance to occupy the building.