HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter #8 John & Emily BennettRE: Docket No. 15060008 UV ZO CH: 5.01
Members of the BZA,
Please deny a Use Variance for a gas station / convenience store at 146th and Gray Rd. It
poses incredible safety concerns. Please consider the following before approving the variance.
- U.G. Mitchner Ditch
- Drinking Water Safety
- Gray Road Traffic Concerns & Conservation
U.G. Mitchner Ditch
The U.G. Mitchner Ditch forms the east boundary of our lot. Increased development north of us
on Gray Road has lead to the decrease of natural water absorption and increase of discharge
into the U.G. Mitchner Ditch. Near us, there’s been no downstream maintenance to help
allocate for that increased discharge. The result — high water levels and standing water on our
lot after extremely heavy rain.
Approving this variance, will substantially decrease natural water absorption and increase
discharge into the U.G. Mitchner Ditch.
The site plan calls for direct drainage into the ditch, with a system in place to remove
80% of Total Suspended Solids (TSS). Monitoring conducted by employees and a third party.
•What is the risk factor for the 20% of TSS that doesn’t get filtered?
•Who is the third party who will monitor and to whom are they accountable?
•If operators change, what happens to protocols & monitoring?
If this were a proposed pharmacy or bank, we would voice concern regarding the increased
drainage into Mitchner Ditch.
A gas station with environmental hazards, well that simply alarms us.
Wellhead Protection Area (WPA)
Potential contamination of the wellhead should not be overlooked.
Prior efforts to bring a gas station to this site raised serious concerns from the Department of
Waterworks, Hamilton County Health Department & the Hamilton County Surveyor ’s office
specifically regarding the WPA.
•Why hasn’t their opinion been heard or sought out?
•Where is the due diligence?
•How could a variance be approved before facts are presented?
This City of Carmel continuously touts recognition from IDEM and the Groundwater Foundation
for efforts to protect the groundwater. Approving this variance, on this site, in the 5 Year WPA is
the opposite behavior of a “Groundwater Guardian” and goes against the objectives of the
Carmel Clay Comprehensive plan.
Policy 7: Inspire Environmental Awareness (pg. 20)
Introduction: Being environmentally aware includes understanding the benefits of protecting natural
areas, emphasizing use of native plant material into the urban environment, reducing energy
consumption, encouraging energy and natural resource conservation, and utilizing “green”
building, building materials to lessen our impact on the environment.
Objective 7.7: Continue to protect regional surface and ground water sources to ensure safe
drinking water for Carmel and adjacent municipalities. Institute regulations that further protect the
delineated wellhead protection areas from contaminants and land uses that have a higher risk of
contaminating water resources.
Source: http://www.carmel.in.gov/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=5318
Gray Road
The plan calls for a full access drive on Gray Road. Safety is a serious concern.
The traffic study does not account for the elevated height of 146th street. There is limited to
no visibility of on-coming southbound traffic on Gray due to the elevation, yet people will be able
to exit left onto Gray? How is that safe?
The Traffic Study incorrectly identifies Gray Road as a Secondary Arterial Street.
In the 2014 Transportation plan, Gray Road is designated Parkway Collector Street,
with maximum of 2 lanes.
Grey Road area is a dedicated conservation corridor. This usage and current site plan with exits
onto gray road mitigates and removes many trees and vegetation.
Transportation Plan Source: http://www.carmel.in.gov/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=5316
Map Source: http://www.carmel.in.gov/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=5327
Conclusion
Protocols fail. Natural disasters happen. Human errors occur.
In 2012, during infrastructure development of Grey Oaks subdivision, Old Town Design Group’s
subcontractors failed to close off the storm drain pipe to the sanitary sewer. During an
excessive rain, the stormwater flooded the sewer system causing the lift station to fail. Our
basement along with 4 others flooded with sewer water.
Protocols and measures were in place to safeguard that from happening, yet it still happened.
There are no guarantees the measures & protocols of Getgo or any other future operator will
ensure our safety as homeowners on U.G. Mitchner Ditch and the safety of our drinking water.
There’s a reason you don’t put gas stations on rivers and lakes. There’s been no proper
due diligence. No long term environmental impact studies have been completed at this site.
The only way to ensure there is no bio-chemical effect on the U.G. Mitchner Drainage Shed and
the WPA — is by not approving the variance.
There’s a gas station 5,000 feet to the west. It’s a convenience and a risk, we don’t need.
Thank you in advance for your consideration.
John & Emily Bennett
4879 Woodfield Drive