HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetters Submitted for Public Comment PROBLEM:
The utmost concern of the residents of Carmelview Drive,
Main Street, Concord Village, Harrowgate, "Old Carmel " , and
the parents of Carmel Elementary students is the safety of
the chilren who live, play, and walk to and from school or
bus stops within a 1/2 mile radius of the Main Street entrance
to the high school .
We currently, and have had for several years , experienced
traffic problems with periods of extreme congestion and
severely unsafe driving conditions that have often jeopardized
the safety of the children. Thus far , Carmel has been very
fortunate. A report released from Washington, D. C. that
appeared in the Indianapolis Star this morning states that the
leading cause of death for children from ages 5 to 9, second
only to cancer , is being struck by an automobile while
walking. If this current parking arrangement is continued and
is ultimately aggravated by this proposed parking area, the
safety of our children is at great risk.
We were informed that there will be 2 off duty officers
hired to control traffic at the close of school each day.
Unfortunately, this will not solve the following problems :
1 . The Carmel Junior High School buses arrive for
drop-off at this same corner between 3: 10 and 3:20
p. m. at the same time that 450 cars will be attempt-
ing to exit onto Main Street.
2. As stated by a Carmel Elementary teacher , there
are several after school activities at Carmel Ele-
mentary that would also be affected by this traffic.
3. There is no way to control the morning routes
of the high school students en route to the parking
area. As a result, many will be using these resi -
dential areas as "cut-throughs" while junior high
students are walking to bus stops.
4. There will be no traffic control for before
school or after school functions and activities.
5. We already accommodate frequent traffic from
Carmel Elementary and Wodock Field. These small ,
2 lane ( some with NO sidewalks or curbing ) , resi -
dential streets cannot continue to accept this
traffic.
This parking area is ESTIMATED to cost the taxpayers of
Carmel APPROXIMATELY $450, 000. This figure does NOT include
the salaries of off duty officers after school each day. Nor
does this include the cost of maintenance or upkeep OR the
additional tree islands and landscaping needed to create an
asthetic atmosphere for a residential area.
SOLUTION
During the construction of Phase I , we were informed that
a 1500 car parking lot will be completed adjacent to the new
stadium. We feel that we have a more cost efficient and safe
parking solution that will benefit both the local residents
and the high school students :
1 . Reserve the remainder of the existing parking
area (approximately 400 spaces ) directly adjacent to
the high school for the faculty and staff .
2. Allow the students to use the new 1500 car lot
adjacent to the new stadium for parking.
3. Utilize some of this $450, 000 + parking fund to
hire security from the stadium parking to the school
before and after school . Keep the gates locked
during non-school hours at which time the smaller
lot adjacent to the school could be used.
4. During special activities (concerts, plays,
etc. ) offer a shuttle ( school bus ) .
RESULT:
By utilizing the stadium parking that otherwise would be
sitting vacant with the exception of athletic events for
•
student parking, the following would be achieved :
1 . The majority of the $450, 000 allocated for the
construction of the proposed parking area at the
corner o; East Main Street and 4th Avenue S. E. may
be reappropriated to serve an educational purpose
with a portion of the funds placed in reserve to
pay for security and shuttle.
2. By directing traffic from the stadium parking
area east to Keystone, the students could then
easily exit onto a 4 lane thoroughfare and disburse
safely through the city rather than exiting directly
into residential areas that are unable to accommo-
date this traffic.
3. The ultimate safety of the immediate neighbor-
hoods and the children would be greatly increased.
CONCLUSION
Due to the safety factors and the duplication of parking
that seem a gross misappropriation of funds, we CANNOT support
the current proposal of the high school parking lot at the
southeast corner of East Main Street and 4th Avenue S. E. We
hope that you will take into consideration our concerns and
suggestions.
Tha k You,
�ti
Donna L. Calvert
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340 Carmel View Dr.
Carmel, IN 46032
August 1, 1990 40G
Mr. kick Brandau t,�,
Is
Dept. of Community Development
#1 Civic Square 1/4,a
Carmel, III 46032
Dear Mr. Brandau:
I am sorry I cannot be at the August 8 meeting to speak my concerns
in person. However, I will be vacationing with my family, so I
thought I would take this opportunity to let you know some of the
things I feel are important to consider in regard to the proposed
parking lot for the high school at the corner of Main Street and
Fourth Avenue Southeast.
First let me say that I am extremely concerned that the school
administration is looking at expanding rather than building a new
school on the property on Springmill Road. I am afraid that more
renovation and expansion does not really answer the problems. I
know a larger high school creates more problems in terms of drug
use: feelings of aloneness, suicide, etc. And I am really
concerned as I read in the paper that space is getting cut for
every department, especially science. I'd really like to see work
begin on another high school as we can' t avoid the need for one
much longer with Carmel growing at the rate of 600 new homes each
year. (Figure taken from flyer titled "Welcome to the Department
of Community Development. ")
I hope that you have done your homework and driven down Fourth Ave.
S. E. and around Carmel View Drive: so that you can understand the
problems involved with this project. My greatest concerns are
drainage: traffic flow, ingress/egress, lighting, surface material,
and greenbelt. I will share pertinent facts on each in turn.
DRAINAGE
- A business parking lot of this size would be required to have a
run-off pond.
- "All parking lots shall be designed to provide adequate storm
water drainage, including onsite detention capabilities. "
Section 27. 4. 2 of Carmel Code
- The storm drain closest to this location is already at capacity
due to two parking lots. (library and Carmel Christian Church)
- Mr. Tim Stevens has yet to present on paper a plan from the
architects and engineers of Everett I. Brown that adequately
disposes of all the run-off water of such a parking lot and
does not require a large right-of-way from firs. Marilyn
Thoma s.
- Mr. Stevens has yet to talk about adequate monetary compensation
for a right-of-way along the entire length of Mrs. Marilyn
Thomas' property.
- The ground now soaks up much water on this site and much water
runs off through a culvert under Fourth Ave. S.E. and then
through a swale belonging to Mrs. Marilyn Thomas.
- Most of the drainage from the Carmel Elementary parking lots runs
off through property from 350 through 280 on the east and
south sides of Carmel View Drive. Since the south end of this
field is lower than the north end, some of its drainage will
run this way as well.
- Each of the property owners from 350 through 280 on Carmel View
Drive (the south side and southeast corner) has added one or
two large dump truck loads of topsoil to his yard since Carmel
Elem. was expanded and its parking lots were expanded to keep
from having so much water running through or setting on his
property.
- The drainage was "improved" on the northwest corner of Carmel
View Drive by opening a culvert to allow flow of drainage to
the south on Friday, July 27.
TPAFFiC FLOP
- There is an Elementary School servicing 750 pupils already on
Fourth Ave. S.E.
- Fourth Ave. S. E. is a narrow, two-lane residential-type road.
- There is a junior high school bus which picks up students at
Carmel Elementary at about 7:30 a.m. and leaves them at Fourth
Ave. S.E. and Main at 3:10 p.m.
- The cafeteria at Carmel Elementary serves several elementary
schools, so the cafeteria workers arrive about 7:00 and many
large delivery trucks arrive between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m.
- Teachers for Carmel Elementary must arrive between 7:00 and 7 :30
a.m.
- Children must be at Carmel Elementary by 8:15 a.m. and are
released at 2:35 p.m. : so bus traffic and walking children are
on Fourth Ave. S.E. and walking children are on Carmel View
Drive between 7:45 and 8:10 a.m. and 2:20 and 2 :45 p.m.
- High school classes convene at 7:50 a.m. , putting students
driving cars arriving between 7:20 and 7:50 a.m.
- High school dismisses at 3:03 p. m. , putting students driving cars
on the street and into the parking lot from 3:03 until
whenever they get out of the lot
-A number of high school students take classes such as marching
band, jazz band, theater, and other activity oriented things
that start as early as 7 :00 a.m. or dismiss as late as 4:00
p.m. which would cause reason for cars to be arriving anytime
between 6 :50 and 7 :50 a.m. and leaving between :3:03 and 4 :00
p.m.
- Football: cheerleading, softball (including high school girls'
softball) and baseball take place at Wodock Field behind
Carmel Elem. Parents bring children for practices, pick them
up, come to watch, come and go during games, come in two cars,
etc. , crea.t.ina a real traffic problem throughout the evening,
especially in the spring, early summer and fall
- There are frequently activities at. Carmel Elem. at the same time
there are activities at Carmel High School. Since there is
some activity at the high school almost every night, that
cannot be helped. One especial problem with parking now is
that the Carmel Historical Society has their Christmas bazaar
at the high school the same day that Carmel Elem. has its
Halloween Fun Day.
- Many high school students already use Carmel View Dr. to get to
and from the present parking lot. Those who know the street
use the north and west sides while those who are not familiar
with it use the south and east. sides. In the past five years,
the southeast corner has lost four mailboxes and two dogs, all
thanks to high school students.
- A traffic counting device was placed on Fourth Ave. S. E. this
week, but the next two weeks are the worst in the entire year
for counting traffic. There is no school in session.
baseball and softball are over. Football and cheerleading
have not. started. The high school band is practicing in front
of the auditorium rather than in this field. And many
residents of the area are on vacation.
INGRESS/EGRESS
- Many people who come from west of Keystone to Wodock Field and
Carmel Elementary use Fourth Street S.E. and Carmel View Dr.
- Carmel View Drive is a. narrow, residential street containing 39
homes.
- There are 34 children who live on Carmel View Dr. full time and a
nijmher of grandchildren who visit frequently.
- All the children who live in the Carmeltowrie Condominiums and go
to elem. or jr. high walk through Carmel View Dr. mornings and
afternoons.
- Many people walk or jog or walk dogs on Carmel View Dr. early in
the mornings.
- There is no sidewalk on Carmel View Drive.
- Forcing traffic to turn east on to Main Street from this parking
lot assures that anyone who lives vest or does not want to
wait in line will use Carmel View Drive.
- A policeman now directs traffic at the entrance/exit
of the high school parking lot. onto Main Street and allows
turns in both directions. There are no wrecks there.
- No policeman directs traffic at Fourth Ave. and Main
St. There are many wrecks there after school due to the
ingress/egress on to Fourth Ave. N.E. An elementary child was
critically injured there last year.
- Mxny students now turn north out of the parking lot and go
through the old residential areas of town. If they turn south
in the same way to avoid all the traffic with the new parking
lot, there is only one way out !
- Car traffic on and off Main Street would be no worse than all the
students having to cross hain Street to get to their cars or
from their cars to the school.
LIGHTING
- Carmel Elementary School floods all its neighbors with "broad
daylight." all night every night. It uses all its outdoor
lighting as security lighting. It is all bright white and
unshielded.
- With Carmel Elementary' s lighting and the present street lights,
there should be very little need for security lighting.
- Poles should not exceed twenty (20) feet.
- The globe and the light should be up in the fixture.
- The lighting should be down-shielded at all times.
- "No lighting shall cause illumination at or beyond any lot line
in excess of 0. 1 foot-candles of light. " Section 16. 3. 6 of
Carmel Zoning Code
- Lights should be on timers or have capability of being turned off
when the parking lot is not in use (at least from 11 :00 p.m.
until 6:00 a.m. most nights! )
SURFACE UUATERIAL
- Blacktop is highly heat-generating, especially in such a large
area.
- Paving stones are an alternative. They would allow water to
reach the roots of any landscape plants, shrubs, or trees.
They would look nice. They would make the space useable for
other purposes such as Carmelfest.
GREENBELT
- "Where a lot or parcel of ground used for business purposes in
the B-3 district abuts, or adjoins across a street: a parcel
zoned or used for residential purposes, a greenbelt or lawn
area with a minimum width of 30 feet shall be provided along
the abutting or adjoining property line. A planting screen,
consisting of suitable shrubbery, shall be planted at the time
of construction of : or conversion to, a business activity and
shall be maintained in order to provide effective screening at
all times during the year. " Section 14. 5 of Carmel Zoning
Code
- The handout from the July 23 meeting stated that the total green
space will be 101, 396 square feet or 40%, but it does not
appear to be that great in their picture. (I've enclosed a
copy of their picture for your reference. )
- The total space except for a 50 car parking lot is green now.
- The Findings of Fact states that "the existing use is already
parking/vacant lot and the basic use character will remain the
same" but a blacktopped parking lot is much different from a
grassy area with large trees.
- There is a proposed 40-foot greenbelt along Fourth Ave. S. E. , but
it was left there at the request of Community I}evelopment to
be used to align Fourth Ave. S.E. with Fourth Ave. N.E.
- Tree island' should be provided within the parking lot to shade
it and the vehicles in it.
- Tree islands should be a minimum of six feet by six feet in order
for . tree to survive.
- Tree islands would also aid in using this space for activities
like Carmelfest.
- The ornamental pear trees planted by Greenspace will be removed
from along Ian Street.
- This is one of the largest green spaces in the city of Carmel.
- This has been a very enjoyable and useable space for Carmelfest
the last two years.
It is my understanding that the Board of Zoning Appeals can ask for
additional studies. I think two are very necessary. One would be
a study on traffic flow and ingress/egress. The other would be an
engineering study or a natural resources study for the drainage.
You might also want to review the lighting the Ritz-Charles has
used for its parking lots. As I understand Section 21. 3 of the
Carmel Zoning Code, six of the 25 items to consider in reviewing an
appeal have not adequately been dealt. with. They are :
:
5. Access to public streets
7. General vehicular and pedestrian traffic
17. Landscaping and tree masses
18 Necessary screening and buffering
20. Necessary exterior lighting
21. On-site and off-site, suface and subsurface storm and water
drainage
As you may have guessed, the more I have studied this situation,
the more convinced I have become that the application has good
reason to be denied. One reason for denial would have to do with
property values for people living on Albert Court. ("The economic
factors related to the proposed special use, such as cost/benefit
to the community and its anticipated effect on surrounding property
values. " Carmel Zoning Code section 21. 4) Another reason is the
lack of "adequate and available water, sewage and storm drainage
facilities. " (Carmel Zoning Code section 21. 4) And the third and
greatest reason is "the effects of the proposed special use on
vehicular and pedestrian traffic in and around the premises upon
which the special use is proposed. " (Carmel Zoning Code section
21. 4) If the school goes ahead with building a 6000-seat stadium
and 1500-car parking lot, why can' t the students park in that lot'?
If they might melt walking into school, build them a covered
walkway or mall with walk-lights and flowers with the money
allotted for this parking lot. I wonder if anyone has considered a
parking area on top of part of the school. As it stands, this new
lot could not meet the standards of "one space per employee
plus. . . ten spaces per classroom (secondary)" if the current lot is
closed. (Carmel Zoning Code section 8. 2) By the way, that current
lot parks 850 cars.
If you decide not to deny this application, I implore you to
require before approval that
1. the drainage plan be drawn on paper and approved in writing by
Hrs. Haril yn Thomas
2. Mrs. Marilyn Thomas be compensated monetarily in accordance to
the value of her property for the right-of-way for drainage
3. the main entrance/exit be on Mani Street with the ability to
turn either east or west
4. there be no entrance or exit. on Fourth Ave. S.E. unless they
dedicate an access lane or widen Fourth Ave. S.E. to
accomodate a center left-turn lane from Main Street to the
entrance/exit
5. the lighting be on poles not higher than twenty feet and
down-shielded and turned off when parking lot not in use
5. the lighting not cause illumination at or beyond any lot
line in excess of 0. 1 foot-candles of light
7. the parking lot have adequate greenbelt- and tree islands
Thank you very much for your extra effort in reviewing this
application and all the attendant problems and concerns. Thank you
for taking time to read my letter.
Sincerely,
Sally Rushmore
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