HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter #061 Teresa Sargent
Shestak, Joe
From:Teresa Sargent <tlsarge1@gmail.com>
Sent:Monday, July 13, 2020 2:01 PM
To:Shestak, Joe
Subject:High Density Plan between 146 and Saddle Creek
Follow Up Flag:Follow up
Flag Status:Completed
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To the Members of the Planning Commission:
I am a resident of Saddle Creek in Carmel, IN. My husband and I were recently made aware of the high density
development proposal for the land between 146th and the Saddle Creek neighborhood that looks to utilize our roads
and property for direct access. We oppose this development as it would cause major ramifications for our community
which has stood in the community for well over 20 years. Below, please find a list of the negative aspects we view this
development would have on our community.
1) Loss of common green space owned and maintained by Saddle Creek which is heavily utilized by community children
for play and walking for residents. The replacement as a road would drastically alter the aesthetics of the neighborhood
and change the facilities available to residents.
2) Major increase in traffic. The proposed connections to Saddle Creek would be the primary access for residents in and
out of their neighborhood. As the plans currently sit, an access on the north side to a small access road will not meet
the needs and demands for such a community, forcing them to drive through our neighborhood. This will result in a
major increase in traffic, causing additional noise, wear and tear on roads which we maintain, and additional hazards to
children and walkers. This change would also present a major increase in potential hazard at any main road
intersections of the Saddle Creek community.
A good example of this is where the Westmont neighborhood connects to the south side of Saddle Creek by way of
Prince George Dr. The people that live in Westmont FLY through there. The stop sign is used only as a suggestion and is,
more often than not, completely ignored. Drivers often speed down our road and then cut the corner to make the turn
into the Westmont neighborhood, barely looking where they are turning. This makes it dangerous for everyone in our
community including children, bicyclists, and people out enjoying their neighborhood. My family lives right at that
intersection and we see it all day, every day. It is also an issue concerning the school bus, as the elementary stop is at
the stop sign at Prince George Dr and Royal Saddle Dr. I have seen drivers coming to and from that community drive
past a stopped school bus in both the morning and the afternoon. Westmont is a neighborhood that has main access to
both 136th and 141st streets and we still have this much that we have to watch out for. I can only imagine the amount
of increased traffic and dangerous situations it will cause for the established community if more than 256
homes/townhomes use our roads for their main entrance/exit points.
3) Removal of natural barriers such as trees, bushes and foliage will drastically change the landscape and privacy for the
Saddle Creek neighbors directly adjacent to the development. This will also have an effect on the wildlife in the
surrounding areas, including foxes, rabbits, and bald eagles.
4) The increase in density will result in additional students funnelling into the Carmel Clay school system which is already
struggling with the amount of students within the system. My daughter just finished 2nd grade and there were 27 kids
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in her class. One of the reasons we chose to live in Carmel was the excellent school system. How are kids supposed to
get the education they deserve when the schools have such a high teacher/student ratio? I know this is a different
issue, but if we add another 256 homes to the district, it's only going to add to the number of children at the school.
5) Loss of greenspace will result in less area for water runoff and absorption potentially causing flooding in Saddle Creek
neighborhoods. This is currently a major issue as multiple properties in the surrounding areas already flow into Saddle
Creek ponds and we have seen our waterways struggle with the load placed on them.
6) The new development does not have amenities and greenspaces planned for the residents which will result in those
community residents coming into our neighborhood attempting to utilize our facilities which we privately maintain and
cherish as a community.
7) This development and the additional factors above will result in a major decrease in property values for Saddle Creek,
thereby lowering the tax base of the area. I doubt the lower tax base would be offset by the lower property values of the
new neighborhood development. Furthermore, Saddle Creek has been one of the most sought after communities in
Carmel for many years. Houses move extremely quickly in our community due to what exists today. Changing that
dynamic would be detrimental to not only Saddle Creek, but Carmel as a whole, which has continually sought good
neighborhood investment opportunities. Saddle Creek is clearly one of those communities which has shown what
works.
As a suggestion for potential improvements to the anticipated plan, I would suggest the following:
1) Remove the townhomes from the plan and replace them with amenities for residents of the new community and
more single family homes.
2) Require the development to have a minimum lot size that will be on par with the surrounding neighborhoods.
3) Have direct access to 146th St instead of only the access road and completely remove any road connections to Saddle
Creek.
Thank you for your time and consideration for the concerns I have for the future of my community.
Sincerely,
Teresa Sargent
13783 Royal Saddle Dr.
Carmel, IN 46032
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