HomeMy WebLinkAboutVariance Request and SupportWoolpert, Inc.
333 N. Alabama Street, Suite 200
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317.299.7500
Request for Development Standards Variances
STATEMENT OF VARIANCE REQUEST AND SUPPORT
Project: Firehouse Square – Veterans Way, Carmel, Indiana
UDO Section 2.34 – Minimum Lot Size (Residential)
On behalf of Onyx and East, we are requesting a variance to the development standards to allow
residential townhome lots to be platted with a minimum lot size of 1,000 square feet for the proposed
Firehouse Square development.
Section 2.34 of the current Unified Development Ordinance states that the minimum residential lot size
permitted in the C-1 Zoning District is 4,000 square feet. It is our understanding that a Zoning Ordinance
Amendment was approved by City Council in 2001 reducing the applicable minimum lot size to 2,000
square feet, and that the current UDO will be updated accordingly.
The proposed Firehouse Square project is a unique development consisting of primarily 3-4 story
townhome units that are 20’+ wide consisting of between 2,000 and 3,000 square feet of living space,
depending on the specific floor plan of each unit, with at least 2 bedrooms. The proposed townhome
units are attached and vary from 2 to 7 units per building. Proposed lots for each unit consist of the unit
itself from wall to wall, a driveway at the rear, and small yard in the front with end units having a small
side yard. The lot sizes as proposed vary from 1,060 to 2,133 square feet depending on the depth of the
lot and side yard space, with an average lot size of approximately 1,500 square feet.
In order to meet the required 2,000 square foot minimum, wider unit footprints would be required for
each unit, or deeper lots with additional yard would need to be provided. Given the 3-4 story format, a
wider footprint would result in too much square footage per unit, and the deeper lots would detract
from the more dense and urban style desired for this development.