HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter #053 Brad Lawson
Shestak, Joe
From:Lawson, Brad <Brad.Lawson@yourencore.com>
Sent:Tuesday, March 10, 2020 1:32 PM
To:Shestak, Joe
Subject:Docket # 1912002 PUD: Jackson’s Grant Village
**** This is an EXTERNAL email. Please exercise caution and Do Not open attachments or click links
from unknown senders or unexpected email. ****
Dear Mr. Shestak,
As a current resident of Jackson’s Grant, I am writing you in reference to Docket # 1912002 PUD: Jackson’s Grant Village
to express my strong opposition to changing the current zoning from S 2 / Residential low density to allow for either
high density townhomes or condominiums or mixed use to allow for commercial and high density townhomes or
th
condominiums. My request is that you forward my message to the Plan Commission members prior to the March 17
meeting where this topic is scheduled to be discussed.
I am very proud to be a resident of Carmel. One of the most attractive aspects of Carmel is the diversity of options
residents have in choosing the type of neighborhoods in which they live. Whether it is the beautiful townhomes and
condominiums being built along the Monon trail or the low density neighborhoods such as Jackson’s Grant (as currently
zoned) – we all have our options on where we choose to live.
My wife and I recently sold our 5-acre horse farm in Carmel because we were promised by Republic we would be able to
build a home in Jackson’s Grant that offered “Unbridled elegance at every turn” and even today on the Jackson’s Grant
website you will find a paragraph emphasizing that committment:
The 280 acres that make up Jackson’s Grant is blessed with pockets of native hardwoods and nearly a mile of scenic
natural streams. Thirteen contiguous forested acres, plus several wooded preserves and trails, will remain untouched.
Long stretches of the creek banks will be left intact, and accessible for walking, relaxing and communing with nature.
Changing the zoning to allow for high density townhomes and potentially commercial is not what we were promised and
we would have never sold our 5-acre horse farm if we knew this might be a possibility.
There is no value whatsoever to the current residents of Jackson’s Grant to rezone the 21 acres on the northwest corner
of Spring Mill Road and 116th Street known as Jackson’s Grant Village (JGV) from low-density single-family residential to
allow 20,000 sq. ft. of unneeded commercial uses and 55 high-density 3-story townhomes, with only 19 single-family
homes!
There are however several reasons against changing the current zoning:
1. Greater issues with traffic, congestion, noise, security and increased crowding at Jackson’s Grant clubhouse,
pool, & facilities (note that Republic has promised a second clubhouse facilities that has not yet been started)
2. Negative impact to the natural beauty and character of Jackson’s Grant
3. Significantly lower value townhomes may harm home values throughout Jackson’s Grant
4. No data supporting need for commercial or high density in JGV
5. The developer cannot guarantee specific initial or ongoing businesses – PUD zoning and Republic’s control of the
HOA allows future changes more easily
6. Impact on IU North PUD and the spread of commercial and high density in West Carmel
1
Thank you for considering my position and input on this matter and I look forward to attending the meeting on March
th
17 to share my position in person. In the meantime, please contact me with any questions you may have of me on this
matter.
Sincerely,
Brad Lawson
544 Bridgemont Lane
Carmel, IN 46032
(317) 908-4027
2