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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter #48 Jill Meisenheimer Butler, Bric From:Jill Meisenheimer <jill.meisenheimer@outlook.com> Sent:Wednesday, August 7, 2024 2:24 PM To:Butler, Bric; Jill Meisenheimer Subject:RE Housing Task Force Meeting 6 Follow Up Flag:Follow up Flag Status:Flagged Hi Bric, Can you forward my email to the Housing Task Force Meeting? Thank you Jill H. Meisenheimer My name is Jill Meisenheimer. I have attended all the Housing Task Force (HTF) meetings, though I have found it hard to convince neighbors to attend the 7:30 AM meeting. I think even an occasional evening meeting would have more participating residents. During some HTF meetings I was surprised and confused when some Task Force members suggested that angry remonstrators were responsible for having proposals withdrawn. I can tell you that I wish that happened more than it does. I have asked and ask again that the HTF discuss and inventory affordable housing in Carmel. How is affordable housing defined? Where is it in Carmel? How many homes would be included? How can we protect those areas? If it is so difficult to build these areas, at the least we should be protecting them. I ask the HTF to seriously consider the dramatic consequences that future dense intense multi-use projects, PUDs, ADUs, Split Lots, and Rent to Build proposals can have on the adjacent neighbors. We moved to the suburb of Carmel 45 years ago. We raised our children in 2 different homes in east Carmel. 20 years ago, we built a 1-story home in West Carmel west of Spring Mill Road. During the last 13 years we have experienced a continual attempt to urbanize our suburb by rezoning for increased density and intense mixed-use development surrounding the 116th and Spring Mill Road area and beyond. I write and edit emails for CCRZ-Carmel Citizens for Responsible Zoning, which began in 2011 in response to the 60-acre proposal for The Bridges PUD across the street from our 1- and 2- story Single-Family homes. The developer for the Bridges PUD showed us a conceptual plan with burbling brooks and bridges, and a grassy gathering place with upscale stores. But there are no brooks or bridges, too much asphalt and little grass, several strip shopping areas and a Grocery. Luxury shopping includes McDonalds and Great Clips! 1 Just in our residentially zoned area, since 2011 my neighbors and I have attended multiple meetings with Plan Commission, City Council and/or BZA regarding proposals. We have spoken at Public Hearings, written emails, signed petitions, and seen approvals for the following buildings: The Bridges (including CVS, 2 strips centers, Starbucks, Get-Go, Market District, Steadman Apartments, Bank of America, 2 Medical buildings) Mormon Temple Jackson Grant and Jackson Grant Village Franciscan Orthopedic Hospital with parking garage Zocar with parking garage KAR with parking garage Heritage on Spring Mill Shelly and Joe Schwartz Cancer Center CCRZ is NOT opposed to reasonable and responsible development. We care about what is proposed/approved next door to others, because soon it could be next door to us. Our area is a good example of what can happen when much of nearby zoning is approved. Our CCRZ emails inform neighbors about current development proposals and how to share their concerns to help provide a balance between the city, developers, and neighbors. But there has been little balance, and it is exhausting to keep up with the continual proposals, public hearings, meetings, construction in our area and throughout Camel. Because of PUDS, which write their own rules, we have lost large, wooded areas like at the Flora PUD which touted saving 20% of the wooded area, but according to DOCS, if it had stayed zoned residential, they would have saved 80% of the wooded area! And First on Main, a CRC project, after some confusion, asked for and was approved for 100% lot coverage, with no green space or trees! Now across the street from our 1- and 2-story Single Family homes looms 260 Steadman Apartments in a 3- story building and three-5 story buildings. They are advertised as a luxury apartment community that delivers “resort-style urban living!” And now our City Council precinct has been renamed South Central Carmel! How much is too much? There should be a reasonable balance between new developments and maintaining the residential integrity of current neighborhoods. Jill H. Meisenheimer CCRZ/Carmel Citizens for Responsible Zoning Jill.meisenheimer@outlook.com 2