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CA EL PLAN COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT REPORT
JANUARY 21, 2010
2. Docket No. 09100011 DP /ADLS: CVS Pharmacy at Rangeline Rd
The applicant seeks site plan and design approval for a new retail building. The site is located at 1421 S.
Rangeline Rd. and is zoned B- 8/Business within the Carmel Dr. Rangeline Rd. Overlay Zone. Filed by
Craig Forgey of Gershman Brown Crowley, Inc.
The applicant seeks site plan and design approval for new retail building and site plan which will encompass
both the current CVS and Taco Bell sites. The site is approximately 1.5 acres in size. The building is mostly
comprised of brick veneer and Indiana limestone. On- street parking is provided, in addition to the parking lot.
Adjacent to the site is a multi- tenant retail center to the west, Day Furs to the north, AutoZone to the south, and
Carmel Care Center retirement community to the east. Please refer to the petitioner's informational packet
for more detail.
While the project is very close to receiving 100% support from the Planning/Zoning Department, there is still a
concern with the building "turning its back" to the intersection of Rangeline Rd and Medical Dr. by not having a
door /entrance at the corner. This does not go along with the City's vision for this corridor or the intent of the
Carmel Drive Range Line Road Overlay Zone. While the building is designed to appear as if it has an
entrance at the corner, it does not, which may lead to confusion or frustration of pedestrians/bicyclists trying to
access the store, in addition to creating a "dead" corner. The Department of Community Services knows that
two entrances can be accomplished because it found many examples of CVS stores located at a corner of a street
intersection that have two entrances, one near the parking lot and one at the street intersection.
The intent of the Carmel Drive Range Line Road Overlay Zone is to establish an uptown business district that
will support a range of activities and opportunities to all segments of the community; with mixed -uses in multi-
story buildings; is pedestrian oriented and supportive of multiple modes of transportation; with buildings
and a streetscape which are attractive and safely designed in order to enhance the livability of the city. It is the
City's intent to achieve the purpose of this zone by:
Providing a consistent urban design treatment for private and public properties in central Carmel;
Providing additional opportunities for investment and reinvestment in real estate by mandating higher
intensity of development;
Minimizing suburban sprawl, through re -use and redevelopment of the community's land resources;
Minimize community infrastructure costs thru the more efficient use of land;
Providing controls for architecture and landscape design to establish continuity of design between projects
and to improve the physical relationship between new buildings and overall community.
BZA variance requests will be heard at the January 26 Board of Zonings Appeals meeting for:
building must occupy a minimum 70% of frontage
required number of parking spaces
total number of signs for building
Staff's outstanding issues or comments:
1. Please add a door /entrance to the building at/near the corner of Rangeline Rd Medical Dr.
2. Label the building materials on the revised building elevations on Sheet A -4.1.
3. The Forestry Dept has no issues with the Landscape Plan.
4. Please consider adding additional green /sustainable site and building practices. See Green Checklist.
5. Update the lot cover percentage on sheet C2.1 to show both pavement building footprint, to equal 83.7
6. Please show a pedestrian/bicycle connection from the southeast corner of the site, along the area east of the
building, per Section 23F.14.04. Perhaps with striping of the crosswalk across the drive or with decorative
pavers.
7. The Hamilton County Surveyor's Office has no comments, since this is outside of their jurisdiction.
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8. This project is outside the jurisdiction of the Hamilton County Highway Dept.
9. The Carmel Dept of Engineering reported no major issues with this project right now, knowing that it will
go to committee level for further review /discussion.
10. DOCS is in support of one blade sign, to be located on Medical Drive. However, the blade sign facing
Range Line Road is not necessary due to the new corner placement of the 2 main wall signs.
11. Please limit the number of signs on the drive thru canopy's south facade.
12. Signs greater than 3 sq. ft. will be considered a sign, rather than an exempt sign. This may cause the need
for additional variance requests for the total square footage of signage and/or for signs not facing a public
street to be sought.
The Dept of Community Services (DOCS) recommends that the Commission forwards this item to the
February 2 Special Studies Committee meeting for further review /discussion.
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