HomeMy WebLinkAboutDept Report 07-10-01
CARMEL/CLAY PLAN COMMISSION
SPECIAL STUDIES COMMITTEE
DEPARTMENT REPORT
July 10, 2001
3. Docket No. 39-01 ADLS; Meijer Convenience Store
Petitioner seeks Architectural Design, Lighting, Landscaping & Signage approval for a
Convenience Store. The site is located at the northeast comer of West Carmel Drive and
Pennsylvania Street. The site is zoned OM/M (Old Meridian/Meijer District). The
petitioner also seeks approval of the following Zoning Waiver:
39-01a ZW Z-3525.7B.1(a) < 25' minimum building height
Filed by Paul G. Reis of The Reis Law Firm for Meijer, Inc.
The Department attached a copy of the Old Meridian (OM) District Ordinance (with applicable
sections highlighted) to the report made last month. Please refer to that information as a
supplement to this report.
In addition to ADLS approval the applicant is requesting a Zoning Waiver to allow the reduction of
the height of the structure from 25' to approximately 17'. While the applicant has made attempts to
blend the color of the proposed building with that of the existing Meijer store they should be
prepared to address the issue of building height in greater detail. Please take time to review the
copy of the applicable sections of the OM (Old Meridian) district. There are specific guidelines on
architectural design addressed in the Meijer zone of the OM district. The Committee should
address the question of how this building begins to set the tone for future development on the
Meijer site including future buildings located along Old Meridian as well as the ultimate renovation
of the existing retail store.
The Department does not believe that lowering the height of the building will make it more
complimentary to the U.S. 31 corridor or satisfy the intent of the Ordinance. While the applicant
has attempted to blend this building with the existing store it is not clear based on comments from
commission members at the June 19th meeting that blending the proposed building with the existing
store meets the design standards found in the OM Ordinance. Comments at the Plan Commission
meeting included the following:
1. Desire to see specifics on the canopy and pump design
2. Commitments regarding outdoor display/sales
3. Question of what happened to Old Meridian design / how this design begins to address the
character of the Old Meridian district
4. Desire to landscape details to discuss at committee meeting
The Department recommends that the Committee address the question of how the design of
this structure will establish future design direction for the site.
Committee Report 2001-07-1O.rtf