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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDept Report 07-17-07 ..i'~ ,. . CARMEL PLAN COMMISSION DEPARTMENT REPORT July 17, 2007 51. Docket No. 07040024 DP: 1328-1440 W. Main Street The applicant seeks development plan approval for five buildings. The site is located at the NE comer of US 31 (Meridian) and W. Main Street and is zoned B-6/Business within the US 31 Overlay. Filed by Jamie Browning of Browning Real Estate Partners. The petitioner seeks development plan approval for 5 buildings on a 2 I-acre site at the northeast corner of Main Street and US 3I/Meridian Street. Each building will come back separately before the Plan Commission, at a later date, for ADLS approval of architecture, design, landscaping, lighting, and signage. The proposed use of this site will be mixed, with hotel, office, and retail land uses proposed. At the June 18 City Council meeting, the site was approved to be rezoned to B-6/Business. This site is adjacent to the Old Meridian District, which promotes a higher density mixed use lifestyle and addresses Carmel's unmet need for housing, specialty and service retail, and entertainment uses (per the 2000 Old Meridian Task Force Report). The site is also adjacent to the North Meridian Heights neighborhood. Please see the petitioner's informational packet for more detail on the site plan. At the June 28 Special Studies Committee meeting, the following issues/concerns/requests were made: 1. The committee voted to remove the east interior drive access for vehicular traffic except for purposes of public safety. The petitioner will put in an Emergency Access drive that looks like grass but can be driven on. 2. The committee wanted to see more organic ponds. 3. The petitioner guaranteed the tree buffer along the east property line. 4. The committee felt the plan was very conceptual and need more detail, however there was assurance that each building would come through for approval under ADLS 5. The committee wanted to see a parking structure, to free up some land for green space The following are outstanding issues/concerns/comments from DOCS: 1.) The Engineering Dep't has no major issues with the approval ofthis project. Final construction plans with come through with each subsequent ADLS/DP Amend application. 2.) The City Forester, Scott Brewer, needs a tree preservation plan and/or tree inventory to review. The US 31 Overlay requirements call for protection of existing trees, particularly trees that are 9-inch DBH or larger. 3.) It is possible that BZA variance approval will be required for not preserving a certain percent of the existing trees. 4.) The petitioner should give updates on the dedication of road right of way to INDOT for the possible future US 3 I expansion. 5.) Even though the site layout currently complies with the ordinance requirements, Staff still suggests the site layout be more pedestrian friendly with grouping of buildings, less pavement, perhaps a parking garage, etc. The Department of Community Services recommends the Plan Commission approve this item after all questions/concerns are addressed.