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CARMEL BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS | HEARING OFFICER
DEPARTMENT REPORT
APRIL 27, 2020
(V) Aria Apartments Ground Sign.
The applicant seeks the following development standards variance approval:
1. Docket No. PZ-2020-00032 V UDO Section 5.39.D Prohibited Signs, Off premise sign
requested. The site is zoned B3/Business and US 421 - Michigan Road Overlay. It is located at
approximately 10900 N. Michigan Rd. Filed by Tim Ochs of Ice Miller LLP on behalf of Ari a Land JV,
LLC.
General Info:
The Petitioner developed an apartment complex that lies within Boone County, in Zionville. That development
is accessed primarily from the highly travelled Michigan Rd. The Petitioner seeks approval for an off premise
ground sign that will be located in Hamilton County, in Carmel, to sit along the west side of Michigan Road,
north of Weston Pointe Drive. The sign will comply with the sign ordinance in all other aspects. Please see the
Petitioner’s info packet for more detail on the variance request.
Analysis:
The ground sign will provide the necessary identification required for this apartment complex, which sits
around 400 feet west of Michigan Rd. The apartments will be tucked behind commercial outlots that are
currently being developed west of Michigan Rd., east of Redd Rd., such as for a day care and a car repair
business.
The ground sign will be 6-ft tall, be around 16.5 sq. ft in area (for the sign copy), and have a concrete base. The
sign base will be landscaped. The sign will be illuminated with the ‘a’ logo being halo-lit and with the ‘Aria
Apartments’ letters being push through illuminated letters, so that the rest of the sign panel will be opaque. The
sign, and its associated landscaping around the base, will also be located away from a water easement that runs
along Michigan Rd.
The Petitioner first worked with Staff to design a sign that included the tenant names of the commercial outlots
in order to avoid the need for a variance. After a few iterations, the Petitioner decided it was best to move
forward with the variance process and only have their name on the sign.
The Petitioner addressed all planning/zoning review comments, and the Planning Dept. supports this
variance request.
Petitioner’s Findings of Fact:
Please refer to the petitioner’s Findings of Facts included in their info packet.
Recommendation:
The Dept. of Community Services recommends positive consideration of Docket No. PZ-2020-00032 V.