HomeMy WebLinkAboutDepartment Report 08-01-231
Carmel Plan Commission
COMMERCIAL COMMITTEE
Tuesday, August 1, 2023 Department Report
1. Docket No. PZ-2023-00060 ADLS Amend: L’Etoile Amendment.
The applicant seeks site plan and design approval to reduce the height from 6 stories to 4 stories for a new
mixed-use building with 2,496 sq. ft. of retail on the ground floor, 33 apartments above, and parking in the
back. The site is located at 833 W. Main Street. It is zoned UC/Urban Core. Filed by Dan Moriarity with
Studio M on behalf of the owner, Aziz Mamaev.
*Updates to the Report are written in blue
Project Overview:
The proposed mixed-use building will offer retail spaces on the first floor, with residential above. Parking is included on
the rear portion of the site. To the west is a Senior Living facility, zoned UR/Urban Residential. To the east is the Big O
Tires building zoned UC/Urban Core. To the south is the Guilford Trails Townhome subdivision, zoned UR/Urban
Residential. To the north across Main Street is the Shell gas station and convenience store, as well as other shops. It is
zoned UC/Urban Core. Please see the Petitioner’s Information packet for more details.
Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Standards this project MEETS:
UC/Urban Core:
• Permitted uses – Multiple Family Dwellings – Upper
Floors, General Retail and Service uses – ground floor
• Maximum Front Yard – 2’ required and proposed
• Minimum Side Yard – 4’ required
• Maximum Bldg. Side Yard – 20’ allowed
• Maximum lot coverage – 100% allowed, 95% proposed
• Minimum living area per dwelling – average of 500 sq.
ft. required; 889 sq. ft. minimum proposed
• Maximum bldg. height – 5 stories + up to 3 additional if
partially or fully within 800’ of a Major Intersection, 2
additional stories are allowed.
• Minimum bldg. height – 4 stories required and
proposed
• Street trees proposed
• Architectural requirements –
o Primary facades, ground floor façade has at
least 60% clear glazing, upper floor facades
have at least two windows
o High quality building materials are
proposed
• Landscaping plan approved by Urban Forester
• Parking – 1.2 vehicle spaces per dwelling unit
(33 units) and 1 space per 350 sq. ft. of retail –
47 required, 49 proposed.
UDO Standards NOT MET, therefore variance must be requested or adjustments made:
• Article 5.06.D.3 – Wide Lot width – at least 2 principal buildings required covering 85% of the frontage, only 1
principal building. Variance already approved in 2020.
• Article 5.06.E. – Stepback: can’t have more than 3 stories in the same vertical plane. Variance approved in 2020
• Article 2.38 – 40’ Minimum Side Setback for surface parking, 4’ proposed. Variance approved July 2023
• Article 2.38 – 40’ Minimum Rear Setback for surface parking. 3’ proposed. Variance approved July 2023
• Article 2.38 – There is a maximum rear building setback of 20 ft., 50’ proposed. Variance approved July 2023
Site Plan, Parking and Engineering:
• The site is square in shape, with access only from Main Street.
• The building and parking will take up to 95% of the lot’s area. 100% lot coverage is allowed in the UC district.
• Site flow will direct vehicles to enter and exit on the far west end of the site.
• The west entrance serves some covered parking under the building and some surface parking in the rear.
• Petitioner reduced the number of dwelling units, reduced the amount of retail, and added 8 more parking spots.
• 45 parking spaces are now proposed plus 4 on street parking spaces, and 47 are required. Staff is satisfied with
the amount of parking.
• 20’ of right-of-way will be dedicated to bring this portion of Main Street up to the required 60’ half right-of-way
required by the Thoroughfare Plan.
• Stormwater for the site will be handled by underground detention chambers. A bioswale area is proposed along
the street for added water filtration. The Engineering Dept. is working with the Petitioner to finalize these plans.
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• The front patio will have pavers in the seating area sections and concrete for the sidewalks.
• Bike parking spaces are also proposed within the front patio area.
• Trash will be handled on the interior of the building.
Active Transportation:
• A 10’ wide asphalt path is shown along Main St., which will connect to the sidewalks on the neighboring parcels.
• Bicycle parking is proposed with 5 racks (10 spaces) for short term spaces in the front of the building. 24 long-
term bike parking spaces are proposed within a bike parking room within the garage.
Architectural Design:
• The 4-story building is proposed to be brick and glass, with some metal panels on the front and rear façades.
• The brick work will be very detailed throughout the entire building.
• There is a cantilevered metal canopy over the first-floor retail spaces, where the signage is to be located.
Lighting:
• The lighting plan shows light levels at 0.2 foot-candles at the southern property line and as high as 2.8 on the
western property line.
• Petitioner, please reduce this to 0.1 foot-candles to reduce light pollution onto the residential properties to
the south and west. We do not want it to negatively affect nearby neighbors, as we have experienced in some
other projects recently.
Landscaping:
• Street trees will be provided along Main Street, along with bushes, grasses, and other shrubs to enhance the patio
seating area and front entrance to the building.
• The remaining yards – about 5’ on the west, east, and south – will have shrubs planted. The Urban Forester has
signed off on the Landscape Plan.
Signage:
• Signage is proposed on the metal canopies on the front of the building and will be individual channel letters.
• A Sign package is required, including sign locations, types, spandrel dimensions, and lighting and mounting
specs. Lighting info for the signs is still needed. All sign information can be added to the elevation sheets.
• Petitioner, please provide safety and directional information on signage for the parking garage, i.e.
enter/exit, height restrictions, etc.
April 10, 2023 Commercial Committee meeting recap:
Petitioner presented project and discussed parking. Petitioner is not concerned with the number of spaces they are
providing because the units are one-bedroom and there will be parking structures on 2 sites nearby. Petitioner stated they
are intended to be somewhat more affordable units and not everyone may choose to own a car. There will not be a
restaurant, and most likely it will be office on the ground floor. Committee was concerned with the low amount of
parking and requested a plan for how parking spaces will be managed for the building, ie: first come first served, rented
with a unit, etc. Committee also suggested more long-term bike parking spaces if some residents won’t have a car.
DOCS Remaining Comments/Concerns:
1. Update Lighting plan to reduce lighting levels.
2. Provide lighting details on the sign package for the building as well as the parking garage signage and add this to
the elevation sheets.
3. Address outstanding TAC review comments through Project Dox
Recommendation:
If all comments and concerns can be addressed, the Department of Community Services recommends the Commercial
Committee votes to Approve this item contingent on final TAC approvals.