HomeMy WebLinkAboutProject Description 08-09-24EXHIBIT “D’
EXPLANATION OF REQUEST
By way of general background, in 2006 the Carmel City Council approved the Gramercy
Planned Unit Development District, Ordinance Number Z-493-06, (the “Gramercy PUD”) that
permitted a mixed-use development on the former Mohawk Hills apartment property. Permitted
uses within the Gramercy PUD include multi-family dwelling units, townhomes, senior housing,
office and retail uses, as well as a hotel use. After adoption of the PUD in 2006 there were
significant changes in the economy and housing industry that prevented the overall “plan” for
the Gramercy PUD from advancing forward at that time.
However, the circumstances that prevented the Gramercy PUD from proceeding in its
entirety have now changed and Buckingham Properties, LLC (“Buckingham”) is now proposing
an amendment to the Gramercy PUD with a plan designed as an urban residential development
on a portion of the property and the zoning request is referred to as the “2024 Gramercy PUD
Amendment Ordinance” (the “2024 Gramercy PUD Amendment”).
The portion of the development that is the subject of the 2024 Gramercy PUD
Amendment is referred to as “Gramercy East” and consists of approximately 33 acres located
south of and adjacent to City Center Drive along the east and west sides of Kinzer Avenue, which
real estate is shown and depicted on the site location map included with the submittal (the
“Real Estate”).
Additionally, the 2024 Gramercy PUD Amendment is a “sister-project’ to another
Buckingham rezone proposal seeking C2-Mixed Use zoning for three (3) parcels of real estate
that are located north of and adjacent to Carmel Drive and adjacent to intersection of AAA Way
and Carmel Drive, which rezone request is referred to as the “Carmel Marketplace” and is
identified by Docket Number PZ-2024-000117 Z.
The conceptual site plans and building designs for both Gramercy East and the Carmel
Marketplace were reviewed earlier in 2024 by both the City Council and Redevelopment
Commission as part of Buckingham working on issues related to the Gramercy TIF. Further, both
projects have been designed to complement each other, as well as complement the other new
development that has occurred in the overall Gramercy area to date.
The 2024 Gramercy PUD Amendment seeks a limited number of modifications to the
underlying requirements of the Gramercy PUD. The vision for Gramercy East is to provide a
walk-able, pedestrian friendly community with neighborhood-oriented retail uses. Gramercy
East will consist of: (i) for-sale townhomes; (ii) for-sale condominiums over retail and structured
parking; (iii) multi-family apartment buildings; (iv) renovation of some of the existing 2-story
apartment buildings; (v) dedicated public park and plaza spaces; (vi) additional common area
and open space areas; and, (vii) new pedestrian and vehicular connectivity.