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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDepartment Report 06-16-20 16 CARMEL PLAN COMMISSION DEPARTMENT REPORT JUNE 16, 2020 5. Docket No. PZ-2020-00029 ADLS: North End Town Homes The applicant seeks ADLS approval for 46 new townhomes north of Smokey Row Rd. The site is located at approximately 444 W Smokey Row Rd. It is zoned UR/Urban Residential. Filed by Rebecca McGuckin of Old Town Design Group. *Updates to the Dept. Report are written in blue Project Overview: The petitioner is proposing to build 46 new townhomes in the North End development which is located north of Smokey Row Rd and just east of Meridian St. and Rohrer Rd. The property is zoned UR/Urban Residential which permits single- family attached dwellings. The Primary Plat for this project was recently approved by the Plan Commission in 2019 and the Secondary Plat is currently being reviewed by the Technical Advisory Committee. Please see the Petitioner’s Information packet for more details. Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) requirements the project MEETS: • Permitted Uses • Max building height – 3 stories, 3 proposed • Min. rear setback - 0’ allowed, 5’ proposed • Parking areas shall be behind the building in a garage. • Urban Residential Architectural Standards • 2 windows per unit on upper floor facades Site Plan, Parking and Engineering: The Primary Plat for this project was recently approved by the Plan Commission in 2019 and the Secondary Plat is currently being reviewed by the Technical Advisory Committee. This ADLS request is mostly looking at the architectural design of the townhome buildings. Active Transportation: Sidewalks are provided throughout the townhome development along the public streets. Short term bicycle parking spots are shown in other areas of this North End development, but more bicycle parking spots should be shown near these townhomes. The UDO requires short term bike parking at a rate of 0.1 spaces for each bedroom. Petitioner, please add more short term bike parking spaces. Architectural Design: The proposed townhomes have a very unique design that incorporates elements of an old farmhouse. The main materials include lap siding and board and batten with a brick water table shown at the bottom of the building on all four sides. The front elevations have a mix of front porches, covered balconies, and covered stoops. Likewise, the backs of the town homes are broken up with some units having enclosed, outdoor rooms that protrude slightly over the garages. The front elevations also include a mix architectural details that vary from unit to unit. Some units have shutters, some have a bay window, and in fact the type of window varies from unit to unit. All of these details create a very aesthetically pleasing building design with variation from unit to unit and building to building. Through discussion with staff and the Plan Commission, the petitioner has changed the color scheme for the development so that not all of the buildings will be all white, but a grey color will also be incorporated into the design to add some diversity. Overall the Dept. is supportive of the proposed architecture. Lighting: Lighting will be provided with streetlights and wall mounted lights on the fronts and rears of the townhome units. Landscaping: A typical landscape plan for the foundation plantings around the town home buildings is provided and has been approved by the Urban Forester. Native species are being used that will help reduce outdoor water use and encourage pollinators and benefit plant diversity. The petitioner has stated that additional landscaping in the common areas and the street trees 17 are being reviewed with the Secondary Plat for this development. Signage: No signage is proposed at this time and so an ADLS Amendment will be required to approve the signage for the development at a later date. May 19, 2020 Public Hearing Recap: The Petitioner went over the proposed project, site plan, and architectural images. The architecture is similar to an old farmhouse look and there are different styles between units. They tried to do something unique that hasn’t been done in the market. The Plan Commission asked about sidewalk and bike path connections, dusk to dawn lighting on the front porches, and if the windows on the front can vary in design. The Plan Commission forwarded this item to the Residential Committee, with the full Plan Commission having final voting authority. June 2, 2020 Residential Committee Recap: Petitioner clarified the boundaries of this ADLS approval, presented a photometric plan, showed path and sidewalk connections, bike parking locations, and mailbox cluster locations. They also presented color variation options, with their preference being the elevations where white is the predominant color. The Committee liked the elevations with the white as the predominant color, but asked if there was a better way to show the color samples at the next meeting. The colors will be different on the backs as well. All windows will be fully trimmed. The Committee voted 4-0 to send the project back to the Plan Commission with a Favorable Recommendation. DOCS Remaining Comments/Concerns: The petitioner has addressed all of Staff’s comments. Recommendation: After all comments and concerns are addressed, the Department of Community Services recommends the Plan Commission votes to Approve this item.