HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter #044 John Kirkwood
Butler, Bric
From:Kirkwood, John R. <john.kirkwood@faegredrinker.com>
Sent:Wednesday, November 6, 2024 1:01 PM
To:Butler, Bric
Cc:wkirkwood
Subject:Stout Farm Development - Village of West Clay
Follow Up Flag:Follow up
Flag Status:Flagged
Bric--
Wendy and I have lived on Stanhope Street in the Village of West Clay for over 20 years. Our property is directly north
of the Stout Farm tract - in fact, the alley behind our house shares a common border with the proposed
development. To say we are scared to death of what this high-density, low-end development will do to our property
value is an understatement. The homes that buffer the Stout Farm real estate are beau?ful, well maintained homes
having price ranges from $650,000 to $1,500,000. From my review of the proposed site plan, the prosed development
will have somewhere around 2 to 3 homes placed on a lot the size of mine, with home values 1/3 or less than most of
the homes on Stanhope.
From speaking with my neighbors and representa?ves of our HOA Board of Directors, as well as my own research, I
advise:
The proposed project is not at all consistent with the homes in the Village of West Clay or the neighborhood
west of Town Road.
The property values in the proposed project are not consistent with those in the Village of West Clay.
The proposed development has li?le green space and is not at all consistent with community ameni?es in the
Village of West Clay.
The proposed density is not consistent with the density of the Village of West Clay.
The architecture of the prosed development is totally inconsistent with that of the Village of West Clay.
Given the type of development evidenced by the proposed site plan, it will most surely become a rental
community over ?me which is not at all consistent with significant investment that my neighbors and I have
made in our proper?es.
We are hopeful that you will recognize our hard work and investment in our proper?es and not let the greed of the
current owner of Stout Farms and the proposed developer destroy that investment. I am sure you know that due to the
exorbitant amount that the current owner of Stout Farms wants for his real estate, the only way he can sell it is to a high
density low, end developer so as to get every possible penny out of it. This apparent greed should not be a vehicle for
the City of Carmel to permit a developer to destroy adjacent property values. When the current owner of Stout Farms
and the developer has made their millions and are long since gone, we will be le? to deal with the mess they made and
live with significant loss of property.
Wendy and I ask that you consider the above and share our thoughts and concerns with the members of the Plan
Commission and other public officials and elected representa?ves. We need these officials and representa?ves to
represent and protect us. Thank you.
John R. Kirkwood
Partner
john.kirkwood@faegredrinker.com
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