HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes BZA 01-11-99 Special MeetingCARMEL /CLAY BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
SPECIAL SESSION
CARMEL /CLAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL No. 10
JANUARY 11, 1999
The special session of the Carmel/Clay Board of Zoning Appeals was called to order by
the President at approximately 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers of City Hall, Carmel,
Indiana.
Members present were: Jay Dorman; Dick Klar; Earlene Plavchak; James Quinn; and
Charles Weinkauf
Steve Engelking, Director, and Mark Monroe were present representing the Department
of Community Services.
The minutes of the November, 1998 meeting were approved as submitted.
H. Public Hearing:
Note: All three Agenda Items lh., 2h., and 3h. were heard simultaneously.
lh. Carmel/Clay Elementary School No. 10 (SU- 50 -98)
Petitioner seeks Special Use approval to allow a school within an S -1 /Residence
zoning district. The site is located on the west side of Towne Road, one quarter
mile north of 106 Street. The site is zoned S -1 /Residence.
Filed by Victor Landfair of Fanning /Howey Associates.
2h. Carmel/Clay Elementary School No. 10 (V- 51 -98)
Petitioner seeks approval of a developmental standards variance of Section 5.4.1
of the Carmel/Clay Zoning Ordinance to allow an increase in the allowable
maximum building height from 25 feet to 31 feet. The site is located on the west
side of Towne Road, one quarter mile north of 106 Street. The site is zoned S-
1/Residence.
Filed by Victor Landfair of Fanning /Howey Associates.
3h. Carmel/Clay Elementary School No. 10 (V- 52 -98)
Petitioner seeks approval of a developmental standards variance of Section
25.7.01 -2 of the Carmel /Clay Zoning Ordinance to allow an increase in the
allowable size of the traffic directional signage from 3 square feet to 15 square
feet and to increase the allowable height from 3 feet to 6 feet. The site is located
on the west side of Towne Road, one quarter mile north of 106 Street. The site
is zoned S -1 /Residence.
Filed by Victor Landfair of Fanning /Howey Associates.
Dan Mater, president of Fanning/Howey Associates, appeared before the Board along
with Mark Obergfell, Civil Engineer, and Ron Ferrin representing the owner. Approval
s:\Minutes\BZA \1999jan 1
is being requested for the construction of a new elementary school, No. 10, for the
Carmel /Clay Schools. The site consists of approximately 40 acres and the project will be
a replication of the Prairie Trace Elementary School project on River Road.
The School has worked with the Carmel Dad's Club to master plan the site to allow for
future development that the Dad's Club intends to construct. The eight ball fields and
small concession building shown on the drawing are not a part of the School's petition;
the Carmel Dad's Club will appear before the Board when they are ready to request
approval for their future development.
The site allows for parking spaces for 130 cars and 17 school buses during the day or in
the evening, designated spaces for 174 cars. The building consists of 89,324 square feet
and will house 600 to 650 students.
The site is heavily landscaped with a buffer on the western edge of the property between
Kings Mill Subdivision, and on the eastern boundary, trees buffer the property line that
fronts Crooked Stick. There is also a significant amount of landscaping around the
building itself and the petitioner believes that the design and amenities will blend very
well with the residential area.
There are two variances being sought: one to increase the height of the building to 31
feet, the height of the gymnasium, and the other for two directional signs at each entrance
drive dealing with directing visitors, buses, and parent drop -off.
Utilities are available at the site; all Technical Advisory Committee concerns have been
addressed.
Members of the public were invited to speak in favor or opposition to SU- 50 -98; none
appeared and the public hearing was closed.
Jim Quinn questioned the procedure for public notice; Mark Monroe reported that the
public notice was completed in accordance with the statute and the Plan Commission's
Rules of Procedure.
In response to questions from Jay Dorman, Mr. Mater stated that the adjoining property
owners, the Rileys, had not communicated with the School regarding the proposed
project. The petitioner believes that the parking is adequate and there are no plans for the
lighting of the playing fields.
There are no plans for additional accessory buildings.
There has been discussion regarding a pedestrian link between King's Mill and the
School. The petitioner agreed to keep an eye on development in the area and pinpoint
pedestrian traffic patterns before providing a definite pedestrian link to the school. The
link may possibly be at the stub street already in place within the King's Mill
Subdivision.
s:\Minutes\BZA \1999jan 2
Jim Quinn moved for the approval of SU- 50 -98, CarmeUClay Elementary School No.
10, conditioned upon a written commitment for the installation of the sidewalk going
north and the construction of a pedestrian link between the King's Mill Subdivision and
the School as mutually agreeable between the School and the Department of Community
Services.
As a point of information, Mark Monroe reported that the County has some preliminary
plans for improving Towne Road that would include pathways on both sides of the street.
If the County does not provide for sidewalk improvements the entire length of the
property, the School corporation will extend the sidewalk.
Jim Quinn moved for the approval of SU- 50 -98, Carmel/Clay Elementary School No.
10, conditioned upon a written commitment for the installation of a sidewalk to the
north property line together with some type of water crossing, at which time the sidewalk
from the north would be extended by December 31, 2000; further conditioned upon the
construction of a pedestrian link between the King's Mill Subdivision and the School as
mutually agreeable between the School and the Department of Community Services,
seconded by Dick Klar.
There was open discussion on the motion.
Mark Obergfell stated that during the Technical Advisory Committee review, the
Hamilton County Highway representative informed the petitioner that they were in the
preliminary planning stages and would have to go through preliminary design and then
right -of -way acquisition. Also, there would have to be some type of stream crossing for
the sidewalk. If Towne Road is widened, a widening or replacement of the bridge would
need to be done and it would be logical to incorporate the sidewalk at that time.
Mr. Mater stated that the owner concurred with the conditions attached to the motion.
Mr. Quinn's motion for approval, as amended, on Docket No. SU -50, 98 was approved 5-
0.
Members of the public were invited to speak to Docket No. V- 51 -98, none appeared and
the public hearing was closed.
Dick Klar moved for the approval of Docket No. V- 51 -98, seconded by Jay Dorman.
APPROVED 5 -0.
Members of the public were invited to speak in favor or opposition to Docket V- 52 -98;
none appeared and the public hearing was closed.
There was discussion regarding installation of flashing warning lights before the school
opening.
s:AMinutes\BZA \1999jan 3
Mr. Molitor commented that the Board could not mandate that the School do something
on property it does not own. The Board could, however, ask for a commitment from the
School Corporation to put up the money to install the signs. The County has the
authority to install the flashing lights in this area; however, the Board could ask that the
School enter into an interlocal agreement with the County whereby the flashing warning
lights would be installed and the School Corporation could perhaps assist financially to
off -set the cost.
Mr. Mater then stated that the School feels it is the County's responsibility to install the
signs -the School would also like to see the signs installed. If the County does not install
the signs, the School will commit to install them and will give a letter to the Board to that
effect.
Jay Dorman asked that the Board issue a letter to the Board of Public Works to install
flashing warning light signs at the new Prairie Trace School.
Dick Klar moved for the approval of V- 52 -98, CarmeUClay Elementary School No. 10
with the condition that the petitioner submit a letter to the Board committing to the
installation of flashing warning lights, seconded by Jim Quinn. APPROVED 5 -0.
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at
7:50 PM.
Ramona Hancock, Secretary
Charles W. Weinkauf, President
s:\Minutes\BZA \1999jan 4