HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter #06 Dale & Susan AnkromAugust 11, 2023
Carmel Plan Commission Members and Staff Members
Re: 11335 N. Michigan Road, Docket PZ-2021-00205.
As an architect providing services for many Carmel development projects, I've been on the opposite side of this process and
what is presently proposed by the petitioner is not reasonable, especially with what was submitted last year and the now
latest major proposed-requested variances.
Your job is not always an easy one and your efforts for the community are appreciated. We also appreciate the efforts of the
owner and developer attempting to progress with their planned project and working with neighboring communities.
While committee members have the power to enact changes, please be truly considerate of the current laws and
ordinances. (Partial excerpt below)
CHAPTER 10: ZONING & SUBDIVISIONS ARTICLE 1: ZONING CODE CARMEL ZONING ORDINANCE CHAPTER 1:
TITLE, PURPOSE, AUTHORITY & JURISDICTION:
"The Carmel Zoning Ordinance is an ordinance for the development, through zoning, of the territory within the Jurisdiction of
the Commission. In interpreting and applying the provisions of this ordinance, they shall be held to be the minimum
requirements for the promotion of the public health, safety, comfort, morals, convenience and general welfare ."
Additionally the MICHIGAN ROAD CORRIDOR OVERLAY ZONE is presently in-effect and part of the Carmel City Code &
Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 23C) and as such, should be seriously considered. Included are continued quality of life and
maintained property values.
These zoning regulations and codes were adopted and have evolved for specific reasons and should not be dismissed,
especially when a petitioner requests so many substantial deviations! This project, as proposed, is not suitable adjacent to
our homes. It is imposing and attempts to take advantage-of and disregard the in-place zoning regulations.
This previous proposal was rejected a year ago with good reason. Without further identifying numerous and specific details,
the latest plans are WORSE.
1 - More buildings, taller buildings (37', 3-story adjacent to residential),
2 - More units (244 to now 252 units),
3 - Less parking (504 required, 394 requested),
4 - Facades (Not less-than 8' offsets vs 1.5' requested) and
5 - Setbacks (52.5' vs 40' requested) requested to substantially deviate from codes.
6 – Additional items of Lighting, detailed screening, detailed landscaping and traffic control have not been fully addressed.
Any of the above should be cause to require the petitioner to modify plans and resubmit. You should NOT consider
approving MORE units on this property, 3-Story buildings facing residential areas and the other drastic deviations from the
codes. We, as neighbors hope you will permit brief statements at the meetings.
Approval of this Docket request as submitted, would be in conflict of the duties to protect the "Basic Provisions" of the UDO,
Article 1. This request and the plans need to be further revised to be at least somewhat closer to our Carmel codes and to
be considerate of the neighboring communities.
Please seriously consider our concerns. We are not against development, however, we seek to maintain the character as
defined in the UDO and other Carmel Codes, plus we certainly want to protect our property values and ensure reasonable
development without diminishing our safety, convenience and general welfare, such as our previous Carmel Commission
and Zoning members previously defined for our community. Their vision and code requirements forged what Carmel
became as a high-class city. Hopefully you can continue that path and tradition and not permit extreme deviations from our
ordinances.
Thank you very much.
Dale Ankrom (Indiana licensed Architect - AR 10600132, previously # 4028) & Susan Ankrom
4607 Woodhaven Drive