HomeMy WebLinkAboutDepartment Report 07-16-19
17
CARMEL PLAN COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT REPORT
JULY 16, 2019
12. Docket No. 19050030 PP Amend: Plum Creek Farms Common Areas
The applicant seeks primary plat amendment to remove commitments on their common areas. The original
primary plat was approved with public access allowed to the common areas of the subdivision, but the
neighborhood would like to remove that requirement to only allow Plum Creek Farm resident access. The site is
located northeast of Hazel Dell Pkwy and 126th St on 84.88 acres. The site is currently zoned S-1/Residential.
Filed by William Ranek, HOA President on behalf of the Plum Creek Farms HOA.
Project Overview:
The Plum Creek Farms primary plat was originally approved with the condition that the common areas would remain
open and available to the public. The subdivision would like to remove that condition so that the common areas are
private and only open to the residents of the neighborhood. Please see the petitioner’s information package for more
information.
Additional Analysis:
The Plum Creek Farms neighborhood has had some issues with inappropriate use of their common areas, and has felt
unable to limit the use of the common areas because of the condition that they remain open to the public. The condition
was put in place when a replat for this neighborhood was originally approved in 1998. At that time, the area surrounding
the subdivision was not very developed and there weren’t as many nearby residents. There also were not many public
parks/open spaces. However, the landscape has changed over time and there are several public parks in the area along
with more neighborhoods and an increased population.
The Department is supportive of the Primary Plat Amendment to make the common areas private. Most new subdivisions
have common areas, but they are intended for the use of the residents as they are owned and maintained by the HOA.
Plum Creek Farms owns and maintains their common areas as well, and it would be in line with other neighborhoods to
allow them to be private and not open to the public.
DOCS Remaining Comments/Concerns:
• What changes do you plan to make to the common areas once they become private?
• Do you plan to keep the historic corn crib accessible/open to the public?
Recommendation:
The Dept. of Community Services recommends the Plan Commission votes to suspend the rules of procedure and
Approve this item this evening.