HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes COM 02-04-20 same orange that we are trying to avoid tonight. We then end up with the same orange and a worse type
of sign. The proposed seems like the lesser of two evils. I don't disagree that it is an evil. It is not our
first choice,but given the options that are permissible,there are worse.Rachel Keesling: Did the
petitioner provide you with a rendering showing orange lettering on the building?I want to make clear
that Staff is not against orange. Staff is fine with orange letters. I don't think it will look bad with orange
letters and I think the building is very visible from the street. There is nothing that is blocking the view
from the street.Bob Pointer: The building is massively brown.There is no signage on the shingled
portion of the building. The only way one can truly see the building is when they are headed north.
Orange against brown will not stand out. Ideally, if there weren't a brown background, shingles,and a
curved roof I would agree to orange letters, but it is the colors I have to work with. Rachel Keesling:
And they just replaced all those shingles. Bob Pointer: I don't think at the time of construction they
thought Multi-Tenant. I never imagined I would end up in this building. The building is right off the road
and our business hits the same demographics as the furniture store in the building.Joshua Kirsh: We are
happy to have you join the community.Bob Pointer: I am very much looking forward to moving to
Carmel.
Joshua Kirsh:
• What if you took the orange off the raceway and you used a grey and then the smaller text are changed to
orange?Bob Pointer: I would need to see it first. Ideally I would love to have a sign out by the road. The
alternative is to get people to see a sign at this end of the building. There is no difference across the
frontage. Rachel Keesling: Did the sign company mention using a day/night plex?With white letters
during the day and orange at night?Bob Pointer: They did not.Rachel Keesling: This is used for
businesses that need contrast.A sign may be black during the night and then shine white at night. This
will allow the brand recognition. Bob Pointer: The sign company guided me to the current proposal. I
just want a sign.Nathan Chavez: There is room to expand the sign size. It doesn't hit the maximum sign
size and can be expanded in both height and width. There are signs along the US 31 corridor that utilize
this type of illumination.
Brad Grabow:
• With all due respect to the Kirk family,this building needs a lot more than new signs and shingles can do
for it. We have worse problems,from a signage standpoint,around town.
Brad motions to approve Docket No. 19090004,Joshua seconds,motion passes 3-0,Recuse Potasnik.
2. TABLED to March 3 -Docket No.20010009 ADLS Amend: Brookshire Plaza—Façade and Site
Improvements
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3. Docket No.20010014 ADLS Amend: Geico—North parking expansion
The applicant seeks site plan and design approval for a parking lot expansion(218 new spaces)on the north side
of the building(in the previous center of the round-a-bout which has now been removed and reconfigured). The
site is located at 101 West 103'd Street and is zoned MC/Meridian Corridor. It is not located within any overlay
zone.Filed by David Hagan of Carmel Indy Properties,LLC.
Petitioners: Jon Sheidler(Woolpert)&Trent Burchett(Woolpert):
• The first exhibit in the Submitted Packet is an aerial showing the site when a round-a-bout was present.
Up until 2015 this was the site configuration with the round-a-bout at 103'd and Illinois St.The second
aerial shows the area after the street improvements.
Commercial Committee Minutes 02-04-20 3
• This area is excess property for the City. The property owner,Carmel Indy Properties,has been working
with the City to purchase this parcel to utilize as parking. Geico is well short of parking with the number
of employees they plan to bring in.
• Page 4 of the Submitted Packet shows the site plan for parking in more detail.
• Staff has indicated in the Department Report that the Landscape Plan was approved.
• There were a few comments. One was extending the sidewalk near the intersection down Illinois Street to
provide pedestrian connection to the entrance of the building. We are looking into that.
• The Landscape Plan does utilize rain gardens in the parking islands. As much storm water as possible is
directed into those.
• We are still receiving comments from Engineering regarding drainage review. We will address those.
• Two variances(20020002-3 V)are required and deal with extension of parking into a 30' Front Yard
Setback along Illinois St. and a 20' Front Yard Setback along 103`d St.and Superior St. We are working
with Staff on those two variances.
Department Report: Rachel Keesling:
• Staff has worked on this project since early 2018. It has taken time to create the legal description and
finalize a deal.
• The petition meets all the requirements except the two variances for minimum Front Yard Setbacks for
two different types of streets. They are a 30' and 20' required setback. Staff is in support of these two
variances,and should be seen at the March 23,2020 Board of Zoning Appeals.
• 218 additional spaces are proposed. Staff wanted to keep the proposed parking lot in line with the
existing lot. The landscape buffer continues which gives the City the ability to plant more street trees.
• Staff has asked for a sidewalk along Illinois St.to carry down closer to the building to create a pedestrian
connection.
• Lot coverage for the overall site is at 78.8%,which is under the maximum 80%.
• The Landscaping Plan has been approved by the Urban Forester.
• The Lighting Plan does meet our requirements of 0.3 Foot-Candles at the property lines.
• Staff recommends approval tonight with the condition that review comments are finalized in ProjectDox.
Committee Comments:
Kevin Rider:
• I find it odd that we are not asking for a sidewalk to connect all the way down Illinois St. We are not
asking for it to connect to the path just south of Superior St.?Rachel Keesling: We are not asking the
petitioner to connect because it would drastically impact the look of the property, due to removal of
mature trees.Kevin Rider: There is no path along here.Rachel Keesling: That is true. Brad Grabow:
What about along the west side of Illinois St.?Joshua Kirsh&Rachel Keesling: There is path there.
Brad Grabow: Does it come all the way down to the intersection of 102nd St.and Illinois St.?Rachel
Keesling: There is path from Springmill Rd. all the way to 106th St.
• Does the crossing across Illinois Street exist or will it be installed with this project?Rachel Keesling: It
exists today.
Alan Potasnik:
• How many spaces are in place now?Rachel Keesling: 619.Alan Potasnik: Do you know to what extent
trees will be removed if this is approved?Rachel Keesling: All of the trees remaining in the round-a-
bout will be removed and will be replaced with street trees and trees in the parking lot islands. Brad
Grabow: What is the net of the activity?Jon Sheidler: We do not have that number at this time.Joshua
Kirsh: I am appalled by this petition. I do not understand how we have a sea of parking and another sea
of parking will be approved,when it looks like the existing parking is not fully utilized.Now we are
removing mature trees to create parking closer to the building. I cannot approve this. I appreciate the rain
gardens,but this should be a given.
Commercial Committee Minutes 02-04-20 4
Brad Grabow:
• I had a similar reaction when looking at the aerials. I know that there has been a capacity issue at shift
change.I wonder how much of the building is currently occupied by Geico. Is the need addressed by this
change to accommodate additional use within the building or is it to accommodate the issue that exists
today?Jon Sheidler: I know this is driven by the parking needs Geico has requested to the property
owner. The owner is looking for ways to increase parking.Joshua Kirsh: Because people don't want to
walk far. Brad Grabow: They run three shifts. If they are at 85% parking capacity and during shift
change it becomes a problem three times during the day.Joshua Kirsh: I would argue that the parking
shown on C200(page 5 of Submitted Packet),which shows a lack of use at the far end of the parking lot,
is true during shift change. People are just annoyed they can't find a spot in the first three rows then they
say there is a parking issue. Kevin Rider: Do they stager their shift changes?Mike Hollibaugh: I don't
think anyone is thrilled with the fact that trees are being removed.This is Geico purchasing real estate
from the City that they didn't have access to before.If this was a part of the master plan when the project
was initially approved when the project was approved originally with Thompson Electronics.They are
beautiful and have grown well.This will be their property.Rachel Keesling: I have counted the number
of trees. There are 57 that will be removed and 42 will be planted.Alan Potasnik:Net loss of 15. Kevin
Rider: Wrong direction. How long is Geico's lease here?
Alan Potasnik:
• You are not aware if this is driven by Geico's need for this or another tenant's?Jon Sheidler: My
understanding is this is driven by Geico's need. If there were a simpler solution they would have gone in
that direction because this is a large investment for the property owner.
Brad Grabow:
• Do we know that Geico as a tenant is requesting this additional parking,or is this a real estate investor
who happens to own the building and is simply trying to add value to their investment.Joshua Kirsh: I
read that Geico is adding positions.Kevin Rider: Will this building accommodate them long term if they
keep adding positions?Is there a Geico representative here?Rachel Keesling: A parking garage would
be the next logical step. Kevin Rider: There are no trees in the existing islands correct?Rachel
Keesling: When they came through for the parking expansion along US 31,they had to perform an
extensive drainage plan.All of the required spacing of parking island is present. I'm sure they would like
to remove all of those,which we will not allow to transpire. There has been a conversation for more
spaces. Alan Potasnik: Did your conversation with the petitioner ever include the utilization of a parking
garage?Rachel Keesling: Yes.Alan Potasnik: And it was met how?Rachel Keesling: Cost prohibitive
and that this was a first opportunity to expand and go from there.
Brad motions to approve Docket No.20010014,with the conditions that tree removal is replaced by new
trees or shrubs based on Staff's ratio/caliber,Kevin seconds,2-2,Rider& Kirsh.No Decision.Docket No.
20010014 is tabled.
Kevin Rider: Bring representatives from Geico. Brad Grabow: And a landscape architect.
Meeting adjourned at 6:49 PM.
Nathan F. Chavez ecording Secretary Alan Pots ik Committee Chairman
Commercial Committee Minutes 02-04-20 5