HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter #035 Rai Peterson
Butler, Bric
From:Peterson, Rai <rai@bsu.edu>
Sent:Wednesday, November 6, 2024 10:44 AM
To:Butler, Bric
Subject:Stout Farm Proposal
Follow Up Flag:Follow up
Flag Status:Flagged
Dear Planning Commission,
I am cognizant of the eventuality that the Stout farm property in West Clay will eventually be developed into housing; I
know the quaint horse farm can’t endure forever, and I’m thankful that we have Coxhall garden and West Park nearby to
preserve open green space in our region.
That said, the presently proposed development for the acreage is inconsistent with the city’s vision for the region. The
proposed density is too compact, and the building quality is too poor. Because this site is wrapped on three sides by the
Village of West Clay, it is essen?al that the planning commission ensure the consistency of its future use with the exis?ng
neighborhood that surrounds it, lest this stellar neighborhood lose its appeal.
The city of Carmel shared Brenwick’s vision for the western part of the city, and it defined a character for Carmel that has
made it an excep?onal place to live, raise a family, and conduct business. Please do not be tempted by the expediency of
a good enough resolu?on for this delicate parcel. The first proposal residents were asked to consider was inferior to this,
and the next will, we hope, be be?er.
The current proposal lacks green space, one of the defining characteris?cs of developments in West Clay. It would
burden the infrastructure of the area, par?cularly 116th St. which already sees a volume of traffic that makes trying to
exit the Village of West Clay at Hoover Rd. difficult.
Let’s all keep our standards and be pa?ent. A suitable development proposal will emerge if we con?nue to draw the line
at designs which manipulate density sta?s?cs by proposing to nestle a handful of houses at the local standard amid a lot
of substandard structures. The planning commission is too savvy to fall for this. It’s true that the Village of West Clay
includes apartments and town homes, but they are surrounded by large green spaces and public ameni?es that mi?gate
the ill effects of dense housing tensions.
As development sites in Carmel proper become more scarce, it makes sense to double down on our standards, rather
than to relax those. The current proposal will profit a few by damaging the surrounding majority. A be?er proposal will
be worth wai?ng for.
Sincerely,
Rai Peterson
13078 Deerstyne Green St
Carmel, IN 46032
Sent from my iPhone
1