HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes BZA 03-27-06 Hearing Officer
City of Carmel
Carmel Board of Zoning Appeals
Hearing Officer
Monday, March 27, 2005
The meeting was held at 5: 15 PM in the Caucus Rooms of City Hall, Carmel, Indiana on Monday, March
27,2006. The Hearing Officer was Leo Dierckman.
Department of Community Services Staffin attendance was Angie Conn and Mike Hollibaugh. John
Molitor, Legal Counsel, was also present.
D. Public Hearine::
1 d. Eden Estates, Sec 2, lot 59 pt - Russell Property
The applicant seeks the following development standards variance:
Docket No. 06010012 V ZO Chapter 7.04.03.B side yard setback
The site is located at 3508 E Carmel Drive and is zoned R-l/Residence.
Filed by C. Joseph & Elizabeth G. Russell.
Present for the Petitioner: Joseph Russell, 3508 E. Carmel Drive. He distributed copies of Findings of
Fact and the site plan for the project. The plan showed the relationship ofthe development to the setback
lines. The attached one-car garage will be constructed to match the building. Only two comers of the
proposed structure will intrude into the 10- foot setback by five feet.
No members of the public were present to speak in favor or opposition to the petition.
The Public Hearing was closed.
Mrs. Conn gave the Department Report. The variance is for 5 feet into the setback. There is some
hardship on the property because of the 30-foot drainage easement that runs across the northern portion
of the site, making it hard to locate the accessory structure. The Department recommended positive
consideration of the docket.
Mr. Dierckman APPROVED Docket No. 06010012 V, Eden Estates, Sec 2, lot 59 pt - Russell
Property.
2d. Evan Lurie Building - Parcel 21
The applicant seeks approval for the following development standards variance:
Docket No. 06030012 V ZO Chapters 12.04.01 & 23D.03.B.2.b building height
The site is located at 30 W Main Street and is zoned B-l/Business within the Old Town
Overlay.
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Carmel Board of Zoning Appeals
Hearing Officer
March 27, 2006
Filed by Kevin Sellers of CSO Schenkel Shultz for the Carmel Redevelopment
Commission.
Present for the Petitioner: Mike Hollibaugh, Department of Community Services, and Les Olds, Carmel
Redevelopment Commission. The variance is for building height in the B-1 and maximum number of
stories in the Main Street Old Town Overlay Zone. The building will be four-story masonry four-sided
brick building. The proposed uses are ground floor and second floor art gallery spaces and third and
fourth floors are residential with 4 condominium units. There is proposed enclosed parking for the
residents as shown on the elevation. There is a private entrance for the residents on the east side of the
building. There is a walkway to allow connectivity along the east side ofthe building and also an
emergency walkway on the west side. The building has been through the Redevelopment Commission
and passed their architectural review.
Members ofthe Public who spoke:
Janice Ramsey, 909 Oswego Road, Carmel Barber Shop. Her main concern was parking, especially for
their customers.
Mr. Olds stated they were in the process of reconfiguring the City-owned parking behind the
Communication Center to increase it from 18 to 36 spaces. They are also looking to reconfigure other
parking behind the buildings. There is also parking along the west side of the Antique Mall. The
Redevelopment Commission is planning to buy the First Indiana Bank parcel and remove the building
and have a 2-hour public parking lot. There is a concentrated effort to create additional parking. A
diagram ofthe walkway between the buildings to the reconfigured parking area was shown.
Mr. Hollibaugh pointed out that there will be 119 underground parking spaces and a number of surface
spaces as part of the new Pedcor Design Center Building which is one block south. There will be
additional parking behind the new Old Town Shops.
Natalie Geese, Miran's Cafe, stated that she is pleased with the new gallery. She has noticed the two and
three hour parking has not been enforced and cars are parked longer in some of the slots.
Mr. Olds stated they were looking at enforcement. Arts District parking spaces will probably be marked
for two-hour parking, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, allowing longer time for evening dining. They plead with
the merchants to have their employees park away from the business, even at the Lion's Club.
Curtis Butcher stated it is hard to park away in the winter ifthere are items to carry to work.
Bruce Calabrese, Old Town Tavern, stated that the parking lot behind the First Indiana Bank drains east
to west and floods behind the other buildings. He asked if there were provisions for storm sewers.
Mr. Olds stated they are looking at correcting the area. The water lines that serve the buildings are old
and will be replaced from the streets and the area changed to drain properly.
Mary Ann Butcher asked about the utility poles in the bank parking lot.
Mr. Olds stated they are working with Cinergy to look at the whole area and the anticipated growth and
needs. They will possibly run the lines underground.
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Carmel Board of Zoning Appeals
Hearing Officer
March 27, 2006
The Public Hearing was closed.
Mrs. Conn gave the Department Report. The variance being sought is for the building height, which will
be approximately 53 feet, 8 feet over the allowed height. The Department recommended positive
consideration ofthe docket, since the parking issues will be resolved.
Mr. Dierckman stated he had the opportunity to review this building in the Plan Commission process
and APPROVED Docket No. 06030012 V, Evan Lurie Building - Parcel 21.
3d. Fidelity Keystone Office Park - Strategic Health Plans
The applicant seeks approval for the following development standards variance:
Docket No. 06020023 V ZO Chapter 25.07.02-10.b sign type
The site is located at 650 E Carmel Dr. and is zoned B-8/Business.
Filed by Tim Ochs ofIce Miller.
Present for the Petitioner: Tim Ochs, Ice Miller. This is a multi-tenant four-story office building with
approximately 36,000 square feet. Strategic Health Plans is a large tenant that needs a wall sign.
Permitted signage would be one wall sign and one ground sign or one ground sign and one roof sign.
That is not adequate and it would be difficult to comply. The sign will provide visibility for customers
trying to locate the building from Keystone Avenue. A ground sign would not be visible. The sign will
be less than 75 square feet. The design and colors will be similar to the smaller bank sign that is on the
building.
No members of the public were present to speak in favor or opposition to the petition.
The Public Hearing was closed.
Mrs. Conn gave the Department Report. According to the Sign Ordinance, two signs can face east on
this building, it is just a matter of the type of sign. The Department recommended favorable
consideration.
Mr. Dierckman asked if the sign would be internally lit.
Mr. Ochs stated the individual letters would be reverse channel letters.
Mr. Dierckman APPROVED Docket No. 06020023 V, Fidelity Keystone Office Park - Strategic
Health Plans.
4-5d. TABLED TowRes at '''estoR PoiRte temporary SigR
The applicant seeks approval for the following de'lelopment standards variances:
Doeket No. OtiOl0030 V 1:0 Chllflter 25.01.01 04(L) off premise sigH
Doeket No. OtiOl0031 V 1:0 Chapter 25.07.03 01 iU.umiBated telBfJorary sigR
The site is located at 11055 N Michigan Rd. and is zoned B 2IBusiness within the US
421 Overlay. Filed by Emily James of Portrait Homes.
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Carmel Board of Zoning Appeals
Hearing Officer
March 27,2006
6d. The Great Frame Up (Warren & Phelps, lot 21pt & 22pt)
The applicant seeks approval for the following development standards variance:
Docket No. 06030002 V ZO Chapter 12.04.05.2 rear yard setback
The site is located at 21 First Street SW and is zoned B-l/Business.
Filed by Mark Fraley.
Present for the Petitioner: Mark Fraley, 16756 Burket Drive, Westfield. He would like to change the rear
yard setback from 15 feet to 11.5 feet. The building was designed with the thought that the alley behind
the building was going to be abandoned.
No members of the public were present to speak in favor or opposition to the petition.
The Public Hearing was closed.
Mrs. Conn gave the Department Report. This is a reduction of about 3.5 feet. The alley does serve as a
buffer to properties south of the site. The Carmel Redevelopment Commission is going to apply to the
Board of Public Works to vacate the alley. The Department recommended positive consideration.
Mr. Dierckman APPROVED Docket No. 06030002 V, The Great Frame-Up.
7d. Covenant Commercial Buildings
The applicant seeks approval for the following development standards variance:
Docket No. 06020024 V ZO Chapter 25.07.01-04.i signs in road right of way
The site is located at 611 & 621 N Range Line Rd. and is zoned B-5/Business within the
Old Town Overlay - Character Sub area.
Filed by Larry Kemper of Nelson & Frankenberger for Yvonne & Ben Li.
Present for the Petitioner: Larry Kemper, Nelson & Frankenberger, and Yvonne and Ben Li. The
variance would permit two suspended signs within the proposed right-of-way for Range Line Road. The
two homes on the sites have been converted to business use and received their DP/ADLS approval from
the Plan Commission. The approved site plan was shown. The two suspended signs would be in the
proposed 45-foot right-of-way per Carmel's Thoroughfare Plan, but outside the existing 30-foot right-
of-way. A rendering of the proposed sign which was approved by the Plan Commission was shown. The
suspended sign met the requirements ofthe Old Town District. The signs need to be placed within the
right-of-way to be visible; otherwise they will be obscured and less effective.
Members ofthe Public who spoke:
Nick Kestner, 2123 W. l06th Street. The sign doesn't bother him, but the landscaping plan has not been
completed according to the DPI ADLS. A blue spruce was removed from the City right-of-way without
permission. With all that has been removed and no landscaping, they could put a sign anywhere and it
could be seen.
The Public Hearing was closed.
Rebuttal:
Mr. Kemper stated that the Department Report referenced some trees that were removed.
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Carmel Board of Zoning Appeals
Hearing Officer
March 27, 2006
Mrs. Li stated that the previous owner :filed the petition to remodel the property and had removed the
trees. They had requested permission to remove the trees, but through miscommunication, the previously
scheduled removal happened before their request had been denied. The rest of the landscaping plan will
be completed when the weather improves. It is part of their agreement with the previous owners.
Mr. Kestner stated that trees have already been removed that are shown as part of the approved
landscape plan.
Mr. Kemper stated that they would work with Scott Brewer, the Urban Forester, to replace the spruce
tree and finalize the landscaping that was approved in the ADLS.
They also discussed the $20,000 in escrow being posted as a bond to the City for the landscaping.
Mr. Dierckman APPROVED Docket No. 06020024 V, Covenant Commercial Buildings, contingent
upon the landscaping plan being completed to the satisfaction of the Urban Forester, before the signs are
erected.
E. Old Business
There was no Old Business.
F. New Business
There was no New Business.
G. Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 5:50 PM.
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Leo Dierckman, Hearing Officer
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