HomeMy WebLinkAboutDept Report 05-05-09CARMEL PLAN COMMISSION
SPECIAL STUDIES COMMITTEEE
DEPARTMENT REPORT
MAY 5, 2009
7. Docket No. 09040017 ADLS Amend: Lowe's Garden Center Expansion
The applicant seeks desist approval for a garden center expansion. The site is located at 14598 Lowes Way
and is zoned PUD/Planned Unit Development. Filed by Peter Velde of Kightlinger & Gray, LLP for Lowe's.
In the past few years, it has been hard for Lowe's to comply with the PUD requirement that "no outside,
unenclosed storage or refuse or merchandise shall be permitted." Now, as a solution, the applicant seeks design
approval for a garden center expansion, to house the expanding merchandise stack.
All existing landscaping affected will be relocated and shifted east, to a new planting area. The garden center
expansion is bound by a 21-ft tall enclostre, nude of black wrought iron-like fencing and brick colunuts with
pre-cast concrete caps. Please refer to the petitioner's iufomutional packet for more detail.
A variance is needed for the reduction in total parking spaces, and this item will be heard at the May 18 BZA
meeting.
Plannine/Zonina Dept comments/concerns:
I. Provide photo examples of similar garden areas (with screening) for other Lowe's stores.
2. Provide a delivery truck circulation plan and truck turn circle exhibit.
3. Verify that there will be no additional signage.
4. The Planning/Zoning Dept suggested many alternatives to the proposed design, such as using a green
screen or architectural pwtched metal screening instead of black mesh and nuking [he enclosure more
complementary of the current architecture of the building. More discussion should be had at the
meeting about this.
~. The Forestry Dept is satisfied with the amended landscape plan.
6. The Dept of Engineering has no major comments at this time. Drainage is not greatly affected.
7. The Hamilton County Highway Dept: no connmen[s/concerns.
8. The Hanulton County Surveyor's Office: no conmtents/concerns.
9. (Per the PUD ordinance, the Development Plan amendment approval is granted to the Director of
Planning/Zoning due to the minor alternation of the current approved development plan.)
10. Note: the PUD ordinance states that the merchandise within an attached garden center shall not be
stacked higher than the height of the exterior walUfence. Petitioner, please confirm.
The Dept. of Community Services recommends positive consideration of this item, after all comments and
concerns are addressed. (This item only requires committee approval.)