HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter #111 Shannon Ellis
Butler, Bric
From:Shannon Ellis <shannonkdonlan@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, November 12, 2024 2:20 PM
To:Butler, Bric
Subject:Stout Farm Development/Village of West Clay Home Owner Concerns
Hello Bric,
Thank you for collecting the letters from residents of the Village of West Clay for the Planning
Commission of the Stout Farm Development.
I moved to the Village a little over a year ago and have a home off Stanhope Street with my driveway
backing up to the property where the development will take place. As one of the residents who will be
most impacted, due to our close proximity to Stout Farm, we are very saddened to learn of this
development. I had no idea that this land was going to be developed so soon after we moved in, as it has
stayed a farm for over twenty years since the home was built. I did assume that if it was ever developed it
would be the Village of West Clay continuing to build and further add to our already lovely neighborhood.
What I have gathered is due to some old feud between the landowner and the developer this will never be
an option. It saddens me that the residents of the Village, people who take pride and love where they live,
are getting the short end of the stick.
All that being said, as a recent Carmel home buyer who is 35 with a young family, these homes are not
what first time home buyers in Carmel are looking to buy. We want yards for our kids and dogs to play in.
Our home does have a very small yard now and the only reason I still felt comfortable buying it for my
family is the abundant parks and greenspace throughout the Village, which the new development is not
offering. Buyers of these homes that do have young kids will only have their driveway and main streets in
the neighborhood for kids to play on. I'm not sure what type of structure will distinguish the two
neighborhoods, but it feels like the developers are planting another neighborhood, in the middle of my
neighborhood, that will heavily benefit from all the amenities myself and my neighbors pay for each
quarter. I enjoy living in a neighborhood that is part of the community around it as well, but I do not care
for the fact that these developers are piggy backing off the Village and our wonderful amenities. All
positives for them and nothing to gain for Village residents.
There is the fear that these will become rental homes. I want to live near others who take pride in their
homes and neighborhood. With all the apartment buildings and other townhome neighborhoods going up
in Carmel, I enjoy that the west side of Carmel is green space and neighborhoods. I have no issues with
building homes for buyers with a $400-$700k budget, but give them homes! Not poorly built structures
that are on top of one another.
I feel this development is a truly unique situation due to the fact that it is surrounded on three sides by a
beloved neighborhood that is an entirely unique entity to begin with. It may seem the backlash from the
Village is over the top, but I am unaware of any other neighborhood/community like it. In my short time
living here I have become very invested in the standards of the community. Allowing this development to
be built as it is currently proposed is a huge disservice to those of us in this community. Please consider
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pushing back for a plan with fewer units/structures/homes and build a neighborhood with green space
and yards where families can grow.
Thanks,
Shannon Ellis
317-753-2737
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