HomeMy WebLinkAboutDepartment Report 06-04-241
Carmel Plan Commission
COMMITTEE
Tuesday, June 4, 2024 Department Report
Docket No. PZ-2023-00076 PP/SP: Cherry Creek Farms Minor Subdivision.
The applicant seeks minor subdivision plat approval to split one 2.7-acre parcel into 2 residential
lots. The site is located at 13777 Hazel Dell Parkway and is zoned S- 1/Residential. Filed by Mike
Kinney, owner.
*Updates to the report are in blue.
Project Overview: The Petitioner seeks to subdivide one 2.7-acre parcel into 2 lots on Hazel Dell Parkway just
south of Cherry Tree Elementary School. The property is zoned S-1/Residential. Surrounding properties to the
ease, south, and west are single family residential homes zoned S-1/Residential. To the north is Cherry Tree
Elementary School. Please see the Petitioner’s Information Package for more details.
UDO Standards this project MEETS:
• Minimum Lot Area – 15,000 sq. ft.
• Minimum lot Width – 120 ft.
• Minimum Side Yard Setback – 10 ft., 30 ft. aggregate
• Minimum Rear Yard Setback – 20 ft.
• Maximum Density – 1 lot per acre
• Dedication of right-of-way
UDO Ordinance Standards NOT MET:
• 10 ft. multi-use path required along Hazel Dell Pkwy – No path shown.
Comprehensive (Comp) Plan Analysis:
• The Comp. Plan classifies this area as East Neighborhoods.
• Suburban single-family homes are the dominant land use, and the typical lot size is between 1/8 to 3
acres.
• Maximum height is 2.5 stories, and the typical lot coverage is between 20% and 55%.
• The proposed plat meets these goals of the Comp. Plan and is therefore considered a best fit next to the
surrounding properties which are also classified as East Neighborhoods on the Comp. Plan.
Additional Analysis:
Site Plan and Engineering:
• This plat is considered a Minor Subdivision because there are less than 6 lots, and no new streets are
being created.
• The petitioner proposes to split the existing 2.7-acre parcel into 2 lots.
• The current home will remain on the southern parcel, and a new home will be built to the north on Lot 1.
• Whenever land is divided into new lots, the project must meet the Comp. Plan requirements for right-of-
way dedication and path construction per the Transportation Plan.
• Most of the required right-of-way for Hazel Dell Pkwy is already dedicated, but there is a small portion
on the south end of the project that will be dedicated with this subdivision.
• A 10 ft. multi-use path is also required along Hazel Dell Pkwy, but only a sidewalk exists today.
• Tree preservation is shown on the lots, which will also help with drainage by reducing disturbance and
helping with absorption.
Active Transportation:
• The Transportation Plan in the Carmel Comprehensive Plan requires a 10 ft. multi-use path along this
section of Hazel Dell Pkwy.
2
• The petitioner has not shown the path on the plans and will need to either build the path with
their project, contribute the cost to design and construct the path, or request a variance.
• The Dept. would not support a variance from this requirement.
• The best option would be to build the path now because this is an important connection as it is along a
main thoroughfare, and it leads to a school.
• The school to the north is also planning some renovations and a building addition which is triggering
them to upgrade their sidewalk to a path as well.
Landscaping:
• A 30 ft. tree preservation easement is shown around the north, west, and south perimeters of the
subdivision.
• Since this is a Minor Subdivision, no additional buffering is required.
Sustainability Measures: The petitioner has stated they will implement the following sustainable site and
building design aspects.
• Exterior Envelope Materials: Utilizing siding made from recycled or sustainable materials, contributing
to reduced environmental impact.
• LED Lighting: Incorporating Energy Star LED surface mounted lights throughout the home, ensuring
energy efficiency and longevity with an expected lifespan of 40,000 hours.
• Local Sources: Sourcing materials locally to minimize emissions, transportation costs, and to maintain a
higher level of quality in construction.
• Indoor Air Quality: Using "GREENGUARD" certified insulation products to promote healthier indoor
air quality. Additionally, installing heating and cooling units with high efficiency ratings and whole
home humidifiers for optimal comfort.
• Windows: Installing windows with low E coatings to block UV rays and improve insulation, keeping the
home comfortable while reducing energy consumption.
• Water Efficiency: Incorporating WaterSense faucets to achieve 30% greater efficiency compared to
standard faucets, conserving water resources.
• Flooring: Choosing flooring with Cradle-to-Cradle recyclable carpet, promoting sustainability by
enabling the materials to be recycled into new products.
• Paper Reduction: Embracing digital solutions for scheduling, plans, specifications, and homeowner
materials to reduce reliance on paper and minimize landfill waste.
• HERS Index: Achieving a lower HERS score of 68 compared to the average new home standard of 100,
indicating significantly reduced energy usage and superior energy efficiency.
May 21, 2024 Plan Commission Meeting Recap:
The petitioner presented their request to split this lot into 2 parcels and gave some history on the site. No one
from the public spoke in favor or against. The main outstanding item was the required 10 ft. path along Hazel
Dell Pkwy. The Plan Commission asked about tree loss to install the path, how path would be installed north
and south of the parcel, and what the contribution cost would be instead of building the path today and would it
cost more to install the path in the future. Mike Hollibaugh, Director of DOCS mentioned that there are other
projects that could be coming through in the future to allow a path connection all the way to 146th Street, and
we can’t just look at how things are today as there will continue to be investment in the community to maintain
the quality of life in the city. The Commission voted to send this item to the Plan Commission Committee with
the final voting authority.
3
Update since the Plan Commission meeting:
Staff met with the petitioner on site to walk the property and take a look at the path location and tree locations.
It appears that most of the trees and undergrowth, though maybe not all, would need to come down to install the
path. There is room for a path, but it would get too close to the trees, and they would either need to be removed
or would not survive. However, the Urban Forester only saw 2 or 3 good trees that are worth saving. The other
trees were either not in good shape or a species that is not ideal and may be getting old and dying soon anyway.
We have not received the estimate from the petitioner yet for the cost to construct the path. Staff still supports
the construction of the path with this project and is looking into the potential to plant new trees after the path is
installed to help act as a buffer.
DOCS Remaining Comments/Concerns:
1. 10 ft. multi-use path should be constructed with the subdivision improvements.
2. Please show sewer easements on the secondary plat, per the Carmel Utilities comment.
Recommendation:
The Department of Community Services recommends the Committee votes to Approve this item, once the
petitioner decides how they will fulfill the multi-use path requirement.