Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes BZA 07-23-07 Hearing Officer City of Carmel Carmel Board of Zoning Appeals Hearing Officer Monday, July 23, 2007 The meeting was held at 5 :30 PM in the Caucus Rooms of City Hall, Carmel, Indiana on Monday, July 23,2007. The Hearing Officer was Kent Broach. Department of Community Services Staff in attendance was Christine Barton-Holmes and Rachel Boone. John Molitor, Legal Counsel, was also present. D. Public Hearing: 1d. Providence at Old Meridian Shoppes Pbase II curb cut The applicant seeks the following development standards variance approval: Docket No. 07060011 V Resolution CC-12-06-99-01 Old Meridian Street Plan Docket No. 07060023 V Resolution CC-12-06-99-01 Old Meridian Street Plan The site is located at the northeast corner of Old Meridian Street and Cannel Dtive, and is zoned OMIV/Old Meridian Village Zone Filed by Matt Griffin of Buckingham Companies for Providence Commercial Partners, LLC. Present for the Petitioner: Jim Shinaver, attorney with Nelson & Frankenberger and Matt Griffin, Development Manager with Buckingham Companies. Mr. Shinaver summarized the proj ecL The real estate is part of the Providence Shoppes at Old Meridian which is near the northeast intersection of Cannel Dri ve and Old Meridian. An aerial photograph was shown. The first variance is the slight relocation of a curb cut. It is supported by Staff and the Department of Engineering. There is a message from Engineering included in the Department Report supporting the request. This would allow Buckingham to provide a full access cut in a safe location that does not create any adverse impact to the surrounding properties. Absence of the variance, the use and development of the subject properties would be adversely harmed. Part of the reason for this request is that when the Old Meridian Corridor was planned, the Study Group had decided upon certain locations for curb cuts. As the plans and development commenced, there were some slight changes. Buckingham, Staff and Engineering have been working closely to make sure the proposed location fits the needs. The other variance relates to allowing additional building frontage. The requirements of the Overlay for Old Meridian would limit the building frontage to about 150 feet. The variance is to add approximately 50 more feet to the building frontage which would create two to three more ground floor tenant spaces. This would not add to the overall square footage of the project that was previously approved. This variance allows Providence to design the site so that it has better use of the road frontage and more property could be utilized. This portion of the project was also part of the 2000 Old Meridian Task Force. This request is also supported by Staff. Members of the public were invited to speak in favor OJ opposition to the petition; no one appeared. The Public Hearing was closed. Carmel Board of Zoning Appeals Regular Meeting Agenda June 25, 2007 Mrs. Barton-Holmes gave the Department Report. The Department was in support of both requests and the Engineering Department had indicated they were supporting moving the curb cut. The Old Meridian Street Plan has evolved over time. It was designed about seven years ago and since then the intersection design and the design for Providence have changed. These variances support the evolution of the design changes. Since Engineering supports the curb cut, the Department supports it as well. The change in building street frontage would add more frontage overall to the Old Meridian Street Corridor. The Department recommended positive consideration of both variances. Mr. Broach asked if this was an additional curb cut or was it just moving a curb cut. Mr. Shinaver stated it would just be moving a curb cut shghtly north. Mr. Broach stated it looked like it would make the comer parcel more useable. Mr. Broach APPROVED Docket Nos. 07060011 V and 07060023 V Providence at Old Meridian Shoppes Phase II. 2d. 10330 N Meridian S1. - S1. Vincent signage The applicant seeks the following development standards variance approval: Docket No. 07070015 V Section 25.07.02-08 c Maximum Sign Area The site is located at 10330 N. Meridian St. and is zoned B-6. Filed by Douglas Kochell of Hall Render. Present for the Petitioner: Doug Kochell, Hall Render, Paul Clendenen, Director of Real Estate for St. Vincent and Doug Staley, Jr., Staley Signs. Mr. Kochell stated the entire sign packet had previously been approved by the Special Studies Committee. Four of the signs in the package require variances. They will be replacing the current Thomson signs with the St. Vincent signs. The variances are needed because of the size requirement. The original four Thomson signs were subject to their own variances. The St. Vincent signs will look the same size, but because of the lettering and logo, they are larger than the Sign Ordinance permits. The old and new signs were compared from the packet. The practical difficulty is the signs camlot be manufactured any smaller to fit within the guidelines of the Ordinance. The Special Studies Committee agrees the new signs are more appealing than the old signs. Members of the public were invited to speak in favor or opposition to the petition; no one appeared. The Public Hearing was closed. Miss Boone gave the Department Report. As the Petitioner stated, they are changing signage to reflect the new tenant in the building. The Department feels the new signage is nice-looking and unobtrusive font that docs require a larger size in order to be easily read from the street. The two illuminated signs will be black during the day and white at night. The new signs will be placed in the same locations as the old signs. The Thomson signs were not given a variance for size because they are large thick block letters that are easily read at the size the Ordinance pennits. Because of the length of St. Vincent Health and the font size, the signs will need to be bigger. The Department supported the variance. Page 2 of3 Cannel Board of Zoning Appeals Regular Meeting Agenda June 25, 2007 Mr. Broach stated that it was more visually appealing. With the logo, it needs to be larger. It is a public safety issue to be able to see it from Meridian Street. Mr. Kochell stated that Thomson will still occupy the second building in the development. The ground signs shown are not part of the variance, but are part of the entire sign package. The two signs high on the wall are illuminated. The other two signs are on the building above the doors and are not illuminated. Miss. Boone stated that the two signs above the doors were originally given a variance to exist because of two signs facing one street. These variances are for the size allowed for the signs. They are slightly larger because of the length of the name and the size ofthe font to be legible. Mr. Staley stated that the intent of the signs on the yellow brick is not for advertising from Meridian, but more for location signs for the entrances. Mr. Broach APPROVED Docket No. 07070015,10330 N Meridian St. - St. Vincent signage. I. Old Business There was no Old Business. J," New Business There was no New Business. K Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 5:45 PM. ~~gOffiCer {L-r~ S:\Board of Zoning Appeals\Minules\Hcanng Officer. 2007\20070723 Hearing Officer.rtf Page 3 of3