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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDepartment Report 11-15-221 CARMEL PLAN COMMISSION DEPARTMENT REPORT NOVEMBER 15, 2022 G. Reports, Announcements & Department Concerns 3. Plan Commission to ratify City Council amended version of Docket No. PZ-2021-00177 CP: Carmel Clay Comprehensive Plan Update. The applicant seeks to update and reformat the Carmel Clay Comprehensive Plan. Filed by the Department of Community Services on behalf of the Carmel Plan Commission. *Updates to the Report are written in blue Summary of Council Amendments: Please view the informational packet for the full list of Council Amendments. Council Process Overview: The City Council held its initial public hearing on Monday, April 18th. After several public comments and councilor questions, the proposed plan (Draft #4) was sent to the Land Use and Special Studies Committee for further review. The Committee held a total of four meetings. The first two meetings consisted of staff presenting the document along with questions and discussion by the Committee. At the third and fourth meetings, the committee discussed and recommended specific revisions to the plan resulting in Drafts #5 & #6. The committee returned the recommended Draft #6 back to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. On Monday, October 3rd, the Council further revised and approved what is titled Draft #7. DOCS Comments/Concerns: Unless there are specific questions, the Department believes several Council amendments require little to no additional discussion. The following amendments were a result of further fine-tuning of the discussions that occurred at the initial Plan Commission review: • The 2 new Objectives, pages 18 & 22. • The 2 revised Objectives, pages 20 & 23. • The removal of 3 additional Typical Corridor designations on the Development Pattern Map, page 40. • The addition of several multi-use paths on the Mobility & Pedestrian Plan Map, page 69. DOCS is not in support of the following Council amendments, and believe additional discussion is needed: 1. The reduction of maximum building height from 3 stories to 1 story along the river in the White River Development Pattern (pages 34 & 43). • The White River Vision Plan (2019) establishes a variety of guiding principles to balance development and preservation along the river while bolstering positive social, economic and ecological change. Ecologically, White River is important to Carmel and the region with few buildable areas along the river due to floodplain restrictions. This allows for most of the area along the river to be a great setting for passive recreation, along which Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation is actively planning and looking for opportunities. However, setting a character of only 1 story buildings along the river doesn’t necessarily further the ecological objectives of this Comprehensive Plan nor the White River Vision Plan. In fact, establishing a character of 1 story buildings could be contrary to some of the social and economic guiding principles intended to draw people to the river or build economic strength and identity. 2 2. The removal of the Proposed Local Road between Rohrer Rd and Clay Terrace Boulevard on the Thoroughfare Plan Map (page 57). 3. The removal of the Proposed Arterial between College Ave and Westfield Boulevard on the Thoroughfare Plan Map (page 57). • Neither of the above street connections are likely to occur in the short term due to their proximity to residential neighborhoods. • Placement on the Thoroughfare Plan Map establishes a future opportunity land to be aside and/or secure construction if development occurs in the area. • Placement on the map DOES NOT establish funding, design, or priority for it to be constructed by the City. • These proposed connections are comparable to previously “proposed” connections which now exist, including Illinois Street, Grand Boulevard, Cherry Creek Boulevard and Commerce Drive. Each of these streets exist, in whole or part, due to their placement on the Thoroughfare Plan. Recommendation – Comprehensive Plan Review Committee: The Department of Community Services recommends the committee focus discussion on the three amendments listed above and vote to recommend Approval or Disapproval of the Council’s amendments. Recommendation – Plan Commission: The Department of Community Services recommends the Plan Commission take action to Approve or Disapprove the Council’s amendments as recommended by the Committee discussion. DOCS will prepare a written report of the Plan Commission’s action on the amendments.