HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter #125 David & Nancy Cheesman - fourth submission
Shestak, Joe
From:Nancy Cheesman <ncheesman@att.net>
Sent:Saturday, June 13, 2020 2:38 PM
To:Shestak, Joe
Subject:addtional comments before Plan Commission meeting
Follow Up Flag:Follow up
Flag Status:Completed
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Dear Carmel Plan Commission members,
As you will see, we have written before stating our opposition to the proposed PUD named Jackson's Grant Village. It
has been important for you to hear current Jackson's Grant residents' opinions and we appreciate the opportunity to
make additional comments, especially as the process of committee meetings has occurred.
I have been disappointed in the Commercial Committee's meetings regarding this PUD because many issues that have
been brought up as resident concerns have NEVER been discussed in the committee meetings. For example, the traffic
study discussed in the committee meeting only addressed additional traffic effects on Springmill, 116th Street, and the
roundabout. What about the additional traffic to our peaceful residential streets where many children are playing? The
residents of Stableside (the section of Jackson's Grant that would be adjacent to Jackson's Grant Village) are seriously
concerned about the DAILY effects this new development would bring to our section of Jackson's Grant.
Additionally, I agree with Alan Potasnik with his concerns of the unknown. Statements from committee members
regarding the proposed commercial node in JGV like "I think this sounds like a cool idea" are frightening! Please think
whether you'd be making that same comment if that added dozens, if not hundreds, of additional cars driving in front of
your house every single day. What would you say if those "cool" coffee shops and ice cream stores become empty
storefronts because they can't be sustained in their locations? Is there any actual data indicating that a commercial
node at this location (with so much commercial surrounding it on other corners) would succeed? Comparing it to the
Village of West Clay can hardly be accurate since there is no other commercial property close to that neighborhood like
there is at 116th and Springmill.
Lastly, when we purchased our lot in Jackson's Grant 4 years ago, there were several features we also said "that is so
cool" about. Now, they've not materialized into what Republic "promised":
1. The Hobby Horse Barn - how cool was it going to be to live next door to the historic barn owned by the Frenzel family
which was to be renovated into a gathering spot for the neighbors! The barn was on all of Republic's brochures for their
new, upcoming neighborhood. Now, that barn has been torn down, we've lived next door to an eyesore for 3 years, and
we await the upcoming building of a brand new barn with the final look yet to be determined. We totally understand
why the old barn had to be torn down...just making the point that what was planned has not actually ended up
happening. But...it WAS going to be cool!
2. The beautiful meadow where the horses used to roam behind the barn was going to be so cool to look out over from
the old barn and our houses. Now, this meadow is sprinkled with dead tree branches, strewn with weeds, and being
overgrown with vegetation. But...it WAS going to be cool!
3. The peaceful arboretum, a centerpiece of Jackson's Grant, is now strewn with dead trees and piles of dead branches
and limbs left behind by a bad windstorm a year ago. When the management company was questioned as to whether
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the debris was going to be removed, they stated "no", that it was going to be left in its "natural" form. But....it WAS
going to be cool!
I merely add these illustrations to make the point that what some of you think the new Jackson's Grant Village
commercial node MIGHT become, the Jackson's Grant Village commercial node MIGHT NOT become. I believe Republic
will do the best job possible, I'm just not willing for my beloved neighborhood to be the guinea pig for this idea. I don't
want anyone to say, "but it WAS going to be cool!"
Thank you,
David and Nancy Cheesman
12120 Hobby Horse Drive
(Stableside section of Jackson's Grant)
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