HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter #042 Natalya Olenslager
Shestak, Joe
From:Natalya Olenslager <nolenslager@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, July 12, 2020 7:35 PM
To:Shestak, Joe
Subject:Opposition to Ambleside Point, docket PZ-2020-00069
Follow Up Flag:Follow up
Flag Status:Completed
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Joe Shestak
City of Carmel Plan Commission
One Civic Square
Carmel, IN 46032
I am writing in opposition to the proposed rezoning known as Ambleside Point, docket number PZ-2020-00069
off of 146th street in Carmel.
I am a resident of the Saddle Creek community, located next to the proposed build site. The proposal will have
many negative effects on our community including:
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2. Removal of important Saddle Creek green spaces including
3. a field, cul de sac, and surrounding area of pond
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6. A dramatic increase in traffic, both pedestrian and vehicle
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9. A forced sharing of our amenities (pond, playgrounds,
10. tennis courts, and basketball court)
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13. Loss of privacy
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16. Drainage and animal habitat loss
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19. Decrease in home values
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The proposal requests to connect two of the streets in Saddle Creek with the new community. The extension of
Beaument Blvd would remove a well used field where families go to play games and enjoy picnics by the
pond.
The extension of Megan Drive would remove a cul de sac that is used by families up and down the street for
bike riding, skateboarding, scootering, and driving remote controlled cars.
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This is also right next to a pond where families come to fish and have picnics because it is a quieter area and
easily accessible. These areas are part of the amenities that our community has come to enjoy and expect. I
am not okay with the loss of these amenities.
Along with the loss of amenities, these new road connections will force these streets to become major through-
ways for hundreds of more cars. With 265 units being proposed and most households having at least two cars,
this could mean up to 530 new cars using our quiet streets.
Megan Drive currently has 4 cars that use this street. This is not okay for the families on Autumn Woods Drive,
which connects to Megan Drive. 13 of the 14 homes along Autumn Woods Drive, and Megan Drive have
children living at home.
Our elementary school bus has been illegally passed (with its stop sign out) 3 times in the past year on this
stretch of road. Children need to be safe when walking to meet their bus.
Safety is also required for the walkers, runners, bike riders, and dog walkers who frequent the sidewalks and
street. Increasing vehicle traffic in this area would make this a dangerous and undesirable area for everyone
using, and living in, this space.
The Ambleside Point proposal wants to put 265 units in a space where they are offering very few amenities.
There are minimal walking paths and no fields, playspaces, tennis court, basketball court, or pool. Families
make up a huge part of the population in Carmel, especially this north western side, and they expect to have
amenities available in their communities.
Our community of Saddle Creek has all of these amenities and they are frequently used by our residents. By
connecting our neighborhood with Ambleside, this opens up their community to using our amenities. We pay
money every year for the upkeep and use of these amenities. It’s not right for the builders to assume our
community is okay with this. We are not. The Ambleside Point community needs to provide these amenities for
its future residents.
The proposal is advocating for the expansion of our existing pond off of Beaument Blvd and Autumn Woods
Dr/Megan Dr. I am opposed to this because this pond and the surrounding trees and foliage provide a huge
amount of privacy for our neighborhood and homes in the area. Our house faces this pond and one of the
reasons we bought this house was because of this privacy.
By expanding the pond, the builder will remove this sanctuary and 18 homes will lose a huge part of their
privacy and be left with the view of 20 homes. That decreases property value.
I am also greatly concerned about the pond expansion because of the current drainage in the area and the
loss of precious animal habitat. When we get a lot of rain, the pond in question along with the pond
immediately to the west become so full that the grassy area between the two overflows and turns the ponds
into one. These ponds are at capacity already during wet periods and should not be expected to collect the
runoff from the new housing development. This would bring about flooding which could be very damaging for
the surrounding homes. Thus the drainage plan for the proposal should be looked at very carefully and the
builders should consider adding a second pond to their proposal.
My other concern for the pond expansion is the loss of animal habitat currently surrounding the pond. There
are coyotes, foxes, vultures, and a bald eagle living in the forested area around the pond. Keeping these
animals is critical to keep the animal food chain going. We currently have a lot of rabbits in our neighborhood
and would hate for this ecosystem to get knocked out of whack!
Lastly, putting lower priced homes, townhomes, and homes with small lots and no amenities in the area will
decrease property values of our current neighborhood and make it less desirable. We really want to keep our
home values up and the neighborhood desirable for families and others looking to move to Carmel. Carmel
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was voted one of the best cities to live and we want to keep it this way. Cramming houses into a tiny lot and
not providing amenities is not the way to do this. People value large yards for children, pets, and themselves.
They want amenities in walking distance to their homes. Carmel does not provide these amenities in this area
currently.
I would like to see the current S-1 Residential zoning kept in place and the developer come up with a plan to fit
the currently accepted population density. This would help with many of the concerns that I and my neighbors
have with the current proposal. It would reduce the increase in our neighborhood traffic, allow space for
amenities for the new community including their own ponds for proper drainage, allow current trees to be kept
for privacy and animal habitats, and keep our home values up. Please do not approve the proposal for
rezoning. Keep Carmel one of the best places to live.
Sincerely,
Natalya Olenslager
Saddle Creek Community Resident
14173 Autumn Woods Drive
Carmel, IN 46074
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