HomeMy WebLinkAboutCompliant_City of Carmel vs. LucasCity of Carmel
www.carmel.in.gov One Civic Square, Carmel, IN 46032
NEWS RELEASE - UPDATE
Date: May 22, 2019
Contact: Nancy Heck (317) 571-2474
Release: Immediate
UPDATE to Lucas Estate Release –
The City of Carmel has filed the requests for Preliminary and
Permanent Injunction (attached) against the Lucas Estate in
Hamilton County Superior Court 6.
City Stops Lucas Estate Events
CARMEL, IN – The City of Carmel is filing requests for a preliminary and a permanent
injunction against the Lucas Estate to prohibit them from conducting a business at their
private residential property. For the past two years, the city has tried to work with the
Lucases to come to an equitable solution to the issue created by their repeated violations of
the residential zoning ordinances that occur when they make a profit from hosting large
scale events at the property at 116th Street and Ditch Road. At this point, the City of Carmel
believes that the Lucases have not shown a good faith effort to comply and therefore, the
city is taking this action.
“It doesn’t matter who you are, we owe it to the residential neighbors in the community to
require compliance from the Lucases. The neighbors rely on the city to enforce the zoning
ordinances in place, which helps protect their property values,” said Mayor Jim Brainard.
The events at the Lucas Estate have repeatedly created a large volume of traffic, generated
noise complaints and violated the zoning ordinance. While the Lucases claim that they are
only making this venue available to close friends and business clients, it does not appear
that this is the truth as advertisements for the space have appeared in wedding guides. It is
also listed on Facebook and a website as the location for a concert series.
Here is the Lucas Estate’s most recent award from
Wedding Spot, clearly indicating the continued marketing
of this for-profit event venue.
The fact that the Lucases claim they are donating the event
space for non-profit events does not hide the fact that the
Lucases are making a profit from the catering for these events. Other for-profit event
venues often donate or reduce room charges when the cost of the food and beverage
service reaches a certain level.
The fact that the Lucas’ venue is not required to install the same safety features as other
event venues also puts event attendees at greater risk and poses an unfair advantage in the
marketplace when charities are looking for venues in which to hold their fundraising
events.
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