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Home My WebLink AboutLetter #029 Betsy McCaw Shestak, Joe From:Betsy McCaw <betsymccaw@gmail.com> Sent:Wednesday, July 1, 2020 10:31 PM To:Shestak, Joe Subject:Gas station at 131st and Towne- Docket No. PZ-2020-00093-96 V Follow Up Flag:Follow up Flag Status:Completed **** 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, I am a resident of the Village of West Clay. I live on the west side of Towne Rd in Gadsen Circle. I grew up in Carmel (east and west sides) and am raising my family here. I have witnessed the growth of Carmel for over 4 decades and am very pleased to call it home. I am not in support of the proposed gas station near Towne and 131st St. This is a residential area with amenities that serve the neighbors without being intrusive or decreasing quality of life. In fact, I would say most businesses in the area add to the quality of life. A gas station would detract from the area significantly and is not a needed convenience. The added traffic would significantly decrease the safety for my children and family. We attend Master Yoo’s across the street, and I see several kids visit the CVS on bikes, families walking and riding around the areas very frequently. I run or bike through this aeveral times a month. It is already difficult crossing Towne, and this additional traffic would make it far too unsafe to allow kids to cross Towne on their own as they get older. They certainly wouldn’t not be able to bike in the immediate vicinity of this gas station and shopping area as they do now. I also find it hard to believe that we need a gas station in this location. There are at least four on Michigan road, and two close by Meridian (116/Springmill and Meijer). There is no thoroughfare that demands it as convenience, like Michigan Road and Meridian. And those gas stations are all within a very short driving distance to any person that would consider a new station on Towne and 131 convenient. I am sure the owner of this new gas station can justify the expense by assuming they will cannibalize their competitors’ sales, but an analysis for our residents on the west side of Carmel would surely say we have enough options and can keep the current businesses healthy by refraining from adding unnecessary competition. I understand this may also include a car wash, and here again, there is not market need. At least one, if not two car washes attached to gas stations have failed on Michigan road, likely because of proximity to Crew and Prime car washes. We don’t need another. There are no such businesses in Gray Road or Hazel Dell on the east side, and it remains peaceful and safe for families to ride around. The gas station on Towne Rd and 131 creates a safety hazard for residents due to increased traffic (let alone unhealthy fumes and terrible smells in a beautiful neighborhood), and it is not needed in the market. I hope you will refuse the permits and zoning needed for this to occur. Thank you, 1 Betsy McCaw ________________ Betsy McCaw 847.331.5539 Sent via iPhone- Please excuse any typos and brevity. 2