HomeMy WebLinkAboutExplanation of RequestExplanation of Request
Hope Church of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, Inc. (“Hope Church”) is the owner of real
estate located at 2500 E. 98th Street (the “Church”). Hope Church has used this site for religious
purposes since the early 1960’s. It is currently zoned S-2. In 1980, a Special Exception was approved,
under Docket No. S 45-80, to allow for the expansion of the Church for an education wing.
Thereafter, in 1995, the Church was granted a Special Use, under Docket No. SU-48-95, to add a
fellowship center and gymnasium. Since that time, the Church has hosted a number of different
groups that have, at times, utilized the entire facility, including for educational based activities.
In 2022, Hope Church contracted with Northpoint Homeschool Academy (“Northpoint”) to
provide resources to homeschool children at the Church. The reason for this partnership was twofold.
First, as economic conditions continue to challenge religious institutions, this arrangement provided
funding which allows Hope Church to continue to operate and provide the ministry its congregants
desire. Second, Northpoint was able to bring resources to the Carmel area to help support local parents
in their homeschooling effort.
In response to concerns raised by one or more neighbors as to traffic congestion, Northpoint
and Hope Church quickly implemented traffic and security procedures to alleviate any issues that
arose during the first few days of Northpoint’s activities in the fall of 2022. The Traffic and Security
Procedures show that Northpoint retained a contracted police officer and created security and traffic
procedures to facilitate the safe and efficient flow of traffic at the Church during drop-off and pick-
up times. Since the implementation of these procedures, we believe traffic congestion issues have
been resolved.
It is important to note that Northpoint is not a “school” as defined by the State of Indiana or
by Carmel’s UDO. Rather, Northpoint provides resources to students, up to three days a week, to
complement teaching and activities primarily conducted at home by parents. Northpoint is not in
charge of curriculum, grades, or reporting. Rather, those remain the responsibility of the parent.
Nonetheless, it has been determined that an amendment of the prior approved Special Use is required
to continue to allow the Church to be utilized by Northpoint as an activity that is ancillary to the
Religious Institution use as regulated under the UDO.
Furthermore, Hope Church’s application for a Special Use Amendment necessarily dictates
that Hope Church complies with the Transportation Plan as detailed in the UDO. Given the financial
constraints Hope Church is under, as detailed above, there are limited resources to install paths and/or
sidewalks as required by the UDO provisions. Thus, Hope Church is requesting a variance that would
allow it to limit its compliance with the Transportation Plan to the dedication of right-of-way, subject
to approval from the congregation and the BZA.