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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes PC 06-18-24 4 Plan Commission Minutes 6-18-24 Westermeier: I am just one person, but I think that is really important. Before any next meeting we will have building renderings? We don’t really have anything to look at. The petitioner stated that they will provide renderings at the committee meeting and could bring renderings of the building that was initially approved to compare and contrast it to the new proposal at the request of Commissioner Westermeier. Commissioner Kirsh concurred with Westermeier about the importance of a sign off Illinois. Hill: The request for the variance is some of it a function of the pond for all three sites is on this lot? Is that a portion of the issue fair to say? Keeling: Jeff [Commissioner Hill], part of it is this development was put in place before that requirement was put into the UDO. So, we are trying to be flexible on the intent behind it and filling up the frontage space with as much building as possible. Grabow: The shape of the lot with the elevation of the exit ramp on southbound 31, I am struggling with if anyone could fulfill the intent or if that intent is even necessary of that design requirement. I don’t know if the BZA can address it and it may be kind of toothless in that case if that is their determination, but I am not sure it wouldn’t make sense for the department to administratively determine that a variance isn’t even necessary in this case because there is no US 31 to speak of here just a ramp. (Secretary’s note: Staff does not have the authority to administratively waive this UDO requirement.) The signage questions I completely agree with my colleagues that directional signage from Illinois Street is important so folks don’t inadvertently turn into the church to your south or the medical clinic a little further north, so we don’t have people going back and forth trying to zero in on where your hotel is. The other piece and I hope your elevations and additional renderings will help the committee understand, has to do with signage on all four frontages given the orientation of the building whether signage on the west side of the building would be visible given the distance its set back from Illinois and the extensive landscaping along Illinois. The same thing on the east elevation - given the way both Main Street and the ramp are elevated poses some signage challenges as well. So, I want to be sure to the extent you are investing in signage that it has visibility that is desirable and conversely doesn’t have visibility that isn’t desirable. To the last point because of the elevated nature of the ramp and Main Street when we talk about mechanical screening on your roof, I want to be sure that the screening is high enough that none of the roof top mechanicals will be visible from the ramp or Main Street. Commissioner Kirsh suggested a possible blade sign on the southeast corner of the building to cut out the need for two separate wall signs on the east and south facades of the building. Motion by Westermeier and seconded by Campagna to send the petition to the July 2nd Combined Residential & Commercial Committee with final voting authority. APPROVED 9-0 3. Docket No. PZ-2024-00062 DP/ADLS: Everwise Credit Union. The applicant seeks Development Plan and ADLS approval to build a new 3,400 ft2 credit union on 1.15 acres. The site is located at 10920 N. Michigan Rd. and is zoned B-3/Business District. It is also within the US 421 Overlay District. Filed by Miranda Seals, Architect, on behalf of Everwise Credit Union. Petitioner: Miranda Seals: • Seals provided a summary of the project. She noted that the location previously was approved to be the site of an Oberweis burger restaurant and that the existing curb cuts on the property would be used for access to the site. She went on to display a diagram and provide details to the Commission about traffic flow on the property as it was currently designed. The building design is Italianate, one of the approved styles in the 421 Overlay District. Public Comments: None. Petitioner Rebuttal: None. Department Report: Rachel Keesling: • Keesling recapped the information provided by the petitioner that the building would be of the Italianate style, designed in a fashion that modified the prototype building in a way that allowed for increased aesthetic appeal but was still functional. She noted that less than 10% of the building would be of EIFS material as required per code. • The building will have frontages on three different roadways, one of which would have drive-through lanes for 5 Plan Commission Minutes 6-18-24 the bank ATMs. A variance would be required to allow for drive-through lanes to be visible from a street frontage. It was indicated that staff would be supportive of such a variance due to the unique nature of the lot and the attempts that will be made to screen it with additional landscaping. • All development requirements had been met by the time of the meeting save for a few small adjustments needing to be made to the wall sign plan regarding size and location. These issues were minimal and believed to be easily solved during the ongoing sign permit review process. • A favorable recommendation for approval was provided to the Plan Commission. Committee Comments: Buckler: Really quick could you just orientate us to where the daycare center is? The petitioner redisplayed the plans and indicated the location of the adjacent daycare center for the Commission. Grabow: On the west elevation, the employee service door, can you confirm that the sidewalk shown on the site plan extends so that that door opens onto the sidewalk and not directly into a drive-through lane? Seals: Yes, it does. There is a six foot sidewalk I believe between the face of the building and the curb so the door opens and you can walk along side the building to the north. Hill: Staff described you are meeting the parking ordinance. It looks like you are significantly exceeding it. Can you describe why you need so much parking? Seals: For the anticipated members they are expecting to serve per day as well as this is one of their larger branches so they will have about 12-15 employees per day. Minnaar: I noticed in the staff report you said something about the drive-throughs being in the front not the back, is that not an issue? Keesling: So, because this site has three public street frontages, it has Michigan Road, Weston Pointe Drive, and Red Road, it is kind of a peninsula. So there is really no way for them to be able to meet that requirement of hiding the drive- throughs completely, but this is a common thing that happens on the Michigan Road Overlay. Yet, the way they have designed the building bringing it as close up to the street as possible, and all the landscaping they will be planting on the Weston Pointe side which is the north side will screen it as best as we possibly can, but they will still need a variance in order to approve it. Grabow: Will the intended traffic flow for members using the ATMs be counterclockwise around the building or will they be directed in via the employee parking lot in a clockwise rotation? Seals: They will be directed counterclockwise through the member parking up around the building and back down. Motion by Kirsh and seconded by Zoccola to suspend the Rules of Procedure. APPROVED 9-0 Motion by Kirsh and seconded by Buckler to approve the petition on condition of granting of BZA lot coverage variance approval. APPROVED 9-0 4. Docket No. PZ-2024-00069 DP/ADLS: Independent Senior Insurance. The applicant seeks Development Plan and ADLS approval to construct a 2,224 sq. ft. addition onto an existing building and a new parking lot with 13 spaces. The site is located at 3309 E. 146th Street. It is zoned R- 1/Residential District with a past Use Variance from the BZA – Docket No. 07120006 UV. Filed by Stephanie Flittner, owner. Petitioner: Stephanie Flittner: • Flittner provided a brief description of the business proposed to be relocated from Broad Ripple to the Carmel location under review. They are the largest independent broker of Medicare plans in Indiana. The business has five employees of which most live in Carmel as well as her and her husband, the owners, so they would like to relocate for personal proximity purposes.