HomeMy WebLinkAboutProject Description 10-25-24EXHIBIT “C”
235 1st Ave. NW Development Standards Variance Project Description
The applicants, Jeff and Shari M. Worrell (collectively, the “Worrells”), own a parcel of real
estate identified by the Hamilton County, Indiana Auditor’s Office as Tax Parcel Identification
Number 16-09-25-12-02-036.000, which parcel has a common address of 235 1st Avenue NW, Carmel,
IN 46032 and is also identified as Lot 6 in Henry Roberts Addition (collectively, the “Real Estate”).
The Real Estate is located on the east side of 1st Avenue NW, between 2nd Street NW and 3rd Street
NW and is zoned R4/Residential and is within the Old Town Overlay - Character Sub-Area.
The Worrells plan to demolish the existing home in order to construct a new custom home on
the Real Estate. Old Town Design Group is the architect and builder for the new custom home that is
proposed.
In order to construct the new custom home on the Real Estate, the Worrells are seeking the
following development standards variance:
1. UDO Section 3.64 (C) (3) (c) (i) – Maximum Parcel Coverage: 45% permitted; requesting
49%.
The subject Real Estate is a narrow lot of a smaller size adjacent to alleys on the south and east
sides of the Real Estate. The design of the Worrell’s custom home is consistent and compatible
with the character of other newly constructed and remodeled homes in the general vicinity. The
UDO standard for maximum parcel coverage, as strictly applied to the proposed custom
residential home, presents practical difficulties in designing a custom residential home that
meets the needs and desires of the Worrells, and which is generally consistent with other newly
constructed and remodeled homes in the general vicinity of the Real Estate.
2. UDO Section 3.64 (C) (1) (b) – Maximum Building Width: 45’ permitted; requesting
50.75’
The subject Real Estate is a narrow lot of a smaller size and is adjacent to alleys on the south
and east sides of the Real Estate. The design of the Worrell’s custom home is generally
consistent and compatible with other newly constructed and remodeled homes in the general
vicinity of the Real Estate. The UDO standard for maximum building width, as strictly applied
to the proposed custom residential home, presents practical difficulties in that the front porch
would have to be narrower. While main portion of the home complies with the 45’ maximum
building/home width standard and appropriately masses with the other homes in the area, the
width of the front porch along the west and south elevation necessitates the need for the
variance. The variance seeking a slight increase in the width of the front porch results in a
front porch design that is more useable, inviting and aesthetically appealing.
3. UDO Section 3.64 (C) (11) (c) – Building Heights shall not exceed the height of the tallest
dimension of the nearest two (2) Character Buildings in the same block, or across the street
by seven (7) feet: Height Permitted based on nearby Character Building heights: 31’ would
be permitted; requesting 35’ 2 ½”.
The subject Real Estate has a drop in grade of approximately 3’ from east to west and the
proposed finished floor height of the home is as low as possible while still maintaining proper
grading and drainage for the lot. The design of the Worrell’s custom home is generally
consistent and compatible with other homes in the general vicinity of the Real Estate and the
proposed height of the home is not out of character for the other homes in the vicinity. The
proposed home height does comply with UDO Section 3.64 (C) (11) (b), as the proposed
building height is 24’ 7 ¾” as measured to the midpoint of the fascia and ridge and the
maximum building height would allow for a 30’ building height. However, the UDO standard
in Section 3.64 (C) (11) (c) requires that building heights shall not exceed the height of the
tallest dimension of the nearest two (2) Character Buildings in the same block, or across the
street by seven (7) feet. Based on the approximate heights of the nearby Character Building
heights, a height of 31’ would be permitted for the Worrell’s home and they are seeking an
increase of this height to 35’ 2 ½”. If the subject UDO height standards were strictly applied to
the Worrell’s home, the practical difficulty that is presented is that they may have to lower the
grading of the lot to accommodate a lower finished floor height and building height, which
could cause negative drainage impacts on the Real Estate. Allowing the building height
variance will accommodate proper site drainage and the proposed height will not be out of
character or inconsistent with other homes in the general vicinity.