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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter #05 Tom Barbrick19 December 2021 4504 Windledge Circle Zionsville, Indiana 46077 Carmel Plan Commission Department of Community Services Carmel City Hall One Civic Square Carmel, Indiana 46032 RE: Docket No_ PZ-2021-00205 APIADLS: 11335 North Michigan Road Apartments Carmel Plan Commission, My wife and I are property owners within the Woodhaven subdivision (4504 Windledge Circle) and have been since May, 2019_ The issue is not whether the land directly to the south of Woodhaven (11335 North Michigan Road) will be developed. The issue is for what use and at what impact will you, the Carmel Plan Commission, allow it to be developed. We know that the property is zoned B-3 and that the property, when converted in zoning from S-1 to B-3 in 1988, holds specific commitments which restrict the use of this land. What is at issue is that the proposed developer is seeking multiple variances supporting the building of multi -family apartments which will, in fact, violate both the B-3 restrictions and the commitments in force. What is at issue is that the proposed design will impact the residences surrounding the property on three (3) sides. What is at issue is that the proposed design will impact the environment supporting the wildlife currently residing on this property. What is at issue is that the proposed design will negatively impact the traffic flows on Michigan Road. What is at issue is how the current owner of the property expects to utilize their tremendous family and political capital by asking you to be complicit in their cause for increased financial gain at a loss to our and other adjacent neighborhoods. We do not need to go into detail on the substantial number of UDO standards not met with this proposal as we believe the Plan Commission Report has appropriately captured these_ We would like to call attention to three (3) primary concerns which the developer did disclose to us during our neighborhood meeting with them on 8 December 2021. The building material proposes that over 60% of the buildings will be made of trim material versus the allowable 10%. This substantially cheapens the buildings and it is not complimentary to the residential housing of our neighborhood and it is a significant deviation to the other commercial construction that is immediately adjacent to the property. In fact, the deviations are in direct conflict to the modernization work currently being built in Carmel. 2. The developer has stated that they do intend to request the DOT to install a traffic control device to allow for the residents of the proposed 244 unit apartment complex and the suggested commercial buildings within the US 421 Overlay Zone_ This traffic control, in addition to the new traffic control recently installed at Weston Pointe Drive will cause substantial harm to the traffic flow on Michigan Road. 3_ What is not mentioned in the Plan Commission Report is that the developer plans to remove the pond located at the lowest point in the northwest corner of the property and to relocate it east to an existing pond that is immediately adjacent to the Woodhaven subdivision_ In addition to the considerable impact to the current wildlife making residence in the pond adjacent to Michigan Road, this pond serves a natural purpose in collecting water from the property during raining seasons. It is our belief that the removal of the east pond and the expansion of the north pond will cause new water concerns to the north and Woodhaven while exasperating current water issues facing the Townes at Weston Pointe. Our neighborhood prides itself on having a park like atmosphere on +1 acre wooded lots with a safe and secure environmental landscape in which to reside, raise our families, and support our local community. The impact of this multi -family apartment complex not only violates the B-3 zoning, the 421 Overlay requirements, the Declaration of Commitments, but it also violates our homes, our privacy, our safety, and our belief that the established rules mean something. When you look around Carmel and you experience the quality of the living, the landscaping, and the architecture, you do not see complexes such as this. Apartment complexes built with inferior design requirements by 52%, over -crowded of units by 57%, undersized in parking spaces by 27%, taller than allowed by nearly 50%, and infringing on property setbacks by a range of 24 to 92%. It does not make sense. Not this development. Not this design_ Especially not with this impact on the residential homes and families surrounding this property. Why should these transient units impact us so greatly when we have covenants, zoning, and commitments that have been in effect and known by all when we made our decision to live here? It is a fact that this zoning and these commitments were known by the owner of this land when they bought it from Altums. Curious enough, at the time of their purchase, their stated intention was to ensure that their `homeland property' to the east of this property would not be impacted by inappropriate development. What has changed? This is surely worse. For many of us, our homes within Woodhaven are our forever homes. Please do not allow the financial and political capital of this family and their developer impact us. In advance, we will appreciate your vote to deny this complex and to not send it to the Residential Sub -Committee for further review_ Sincerely, Warren and Janet Duffett 4504 Windledge Circle Zionsville, Indiana 46077