HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter #1 Carl ChapmanFrom:chap1280@aol.com
To:Crediford, Maggie
Cc:Lopez, Alexia K
Subject:July 27, 2015 Hearing - Docket Numbers 15070008 V and 15070009 V
Date:Sunday, July 26, 2015 9:47:09 PM
Ms. Maggie Crediford
Board of Zoning Appeals Hearing Officer
City of Carmel, Indiana
Ms. Crediford:
First let me apologize for such a tardy response/request to two dockets that are included in your Hearing
on Monday July 27. If you don't mind, let me give you a brief background on my tardiness.
I was originally out of town when the notices for both dockets were delivered to my home. Eventually, I
was able to get the certified letters and I did some research about how the requests would impact my
home, which I have owned since 2011, at 241 First Avenue NW which is directly across Third Street NW
from the property. I had a conversation with Matt Huffman, Director of Construction Management of Old
Town Design Group and he was kind enough to provide the Site Plan and Elevation. After receiving
those documents, while I was frustrated why the developer can't live within the requirements of what so
many worked hard to develop for the Arts and Design District, I decided to not object to either request.
This was also heavily impacted by the fact I am an executive of a local company and I have a Tuesday
Board meeting in Minnesota that I have to travel for on Monday evening - I simply cannot change my
plans.
Unfortunately, last Saturday when I arrived home there was a tree company removing every single large
tree on the subject property. While I cannot understand why the contractor and owner want to destroy
the character of this section of the Arts and Design District - if you don't want large, mature trees why not
build your house where there are no trees, for example in the rest of this contractor's developments - that
is a bigger picture question for Carmel which I hope will be addressed in the future. The real issue for
me in the short term is I am now terribly concerned about the site lines and character of this area.
Frankly, the trees provided the cover as to why I had chosen, with regret, to not object to these two
variances. While the builder wants to refer to what they think are very nice landscaping plans, we all
know those trees and plants will take decades to get to the original level of cover and are therefore not
meaningful to my concerns regarding these variance requests.
Let me comment briefly on each request:
- Docket No. 15070008 V
The request is for a building width increase from 45 ft to 47 ft 8 in. This extra width is directly across from
my home and previously would have been blocked by the large trees - not now.
Surely there was a reason why Carmel adopted width maximums, particularly on the relatively narrow
lots. All one has to do is see how long the house is and you will know
that a very large house is already being forced on this lot. Why not require contractors to design houses
within the rules? Again, there are plenty of other areas in Carmel
including this contractor's to build bigger and bigger houses with bigger and bigger porches.
- Docket No. 15070009 V
The request is for a 31 ft driveway width up from what the contractor described in the variance notice as
24 ft width allowed. First let me say my comments are based on the site plan
provided to me by the contractor. When I spoke to Alexia Lopez, whom I have copied, unfortunately she
had a different site plan, although also dated 4/29/2015, so I don't know which is correct. I will make
several comments on this request.
* My site plan suggests the driveway is 31.53 ft long. I may be incorrect but I thought if any part of the
driveway is over 30.0 ft from the garage
that it could only be 20.0 ft wide. If that is true, isn't the zoning variance request wrong by telling us the
request is for an additional 7.0 ft - isn't
it really for an additional 11.0 ft?
* I would ask you to think about the intent of the original rules that were developed to retain the character
of the Arts and Design District. Can this
massive slab of concrete really fit within those intentions?
* Again, I originally thought much of this would be blocked by the very large trees, if not specifically, at
least in how the trees would draw your
attention to them, not to this big slab that is directly across Third Street from my home.
I am hopeful that you will be willing to consider my concerns and I again apologize for my late response. I
fully realize that a property owner can build anything they want within the rules, and I also fully realize
that they can cut down any tree. However, surely there can be some constraint required here. Perhaps
that constraint could be a property owner can do whatever is legal even if it may destroy the character of
a neighbor's home but the property owner has to stay within the original guidelines in order to not make
the situation even worse for the other property owner.
If your inclination is to approve these variance requests, I am asking that you consider an extension of the
approval process so that I can further discuss my concerns with whomever is appropriate. My schedule
is very difficult so I am also hopeful any extension could be flexible. Based on what the contractor told
me, which was they can and will start without the variances, I don't really see who would be harmed by
an extension.
Let me conclude by sharing a comment made by Mayor Brainard regarding my home at last year's Porch
Fest. He told my son how happy he was that we had saved this particular home (at great cost by the
way) since so many had been torn down. He said that he felt that way due to the unique style and the
character of my home and the area. I can tell you much of that character has already been destroyed
with the senseless removal of every single large tree. Further, one more house across First Avenue and
the one next to me are already scheduled for tear down. I believe the Mayor was serious about his
pleasure in saving some of the original houses. Few will ever save the houses that should be saved if
the character of the area is dramatically reduced by variances for things like even bigger houses and
even bigger masses of concrete.
Sincerely,
Carl L. Chapman
241 First Avenue NW
Carmel, IN 46032
812-430-8937