HomeMy WebLinkAboutDept Report 03-23-09CARMEL BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
DEPARTMENT REPORT
March 23, 2009
4h. Uptown Partners Fence Commitment Amend
The applicant seeks the following commitment amendment:
Docket No. 09020004 CA Amend recorded commitment To permit fence design modification
The site is located 531 South Guilford Road and is zoned B7/Commercial
Filed Justin Moffett of Uptown Partners.
General Info: The petitioner has requested to
modify the commitment currently in place regarding
the fence type required for this site. The
commitment was part of an approval for a
residential project, The Cottages at Carmel, petition
nos. 07070044-07070052. The project is zoned B7
with the grant of a use variance for residential.
Analysis: The project is abutted to the east by a
residential subdivision. During discussion of the
variance requests at the hearings, a desire for
screening and buffering between the two sites was
expressed, and a privacy fence, built in accord with
the standards of the Michigan Road/US 421
Overlay, was agreed upon. The Overlay requires a
fence at least eight feet in height around perimeters,
with 24" brick or stone columns every twenty-four
feet, and cedar privacy fence panels between the
columns. Perimeter fences are also required to be solid when viewed from any angle. The petitioner is proposing
to construct, instead, a fence of polyethylene with a stone appearance. The fence would be six feet tall, with six-
foot wide panels that would appear to be stone, separated by narrow columns. While the fence would not be the
same style as required by the Board of Zoning Appeals, it would accomplish the same end, and would likely require
less maintenance. The appearance would not detract from the overall project. Modifying the commitment to
permit a different style offence is unlikely to have any negative impact.
Recommendation;
The Dept. of Community Services recommends positive consideration of Docket No. 09020004 CA.