HomeMy WebLinkAboutCorrespondence: Remonstrance Ltr - Williams Mill HOAJanuary 9, 2011
Carmel Plan Commission
City Hall
Carmel, IN 46032
Ladies and Gentlemen:
An application for a Planned Unit Development (PUD) to be named The Bridges is proposed for
the property north of 111 Street and east of Spring Mill Road. The PUD is slated for
presentation at a Plan Commission meeting scheduled on February 15, 2011.
The Williams Mill subdivision is directly across Spring Mill Road from the land on which the
PUD is proposed to be located. Williams Mill is a community of 47 homes, opened in the late
1990's with single family, detached, zero -lot -line houses. The appeal of the neighborhood is the
quality of the homes and the residential nature of the area. The residents are largely senior
citizens, many retired. Many residents travel to warmer climates during the winter months.
Williams Mill residents rely on the Homeowners Association Board of Directors to manage the
affairs of the Association. The Board of Directors is a voluntary board of varying skills, and
members serve for staggered three -year terms. All residents are expected to serve a term.
The purpose of this letter is to request that the Plan Commission table the consideration of the
PUD until its April or May meeting for the following reasons:
The proposed development is a wide departure from the residential character of the
surrounding neighborhood. In fact, there are no commercial developments on either side
of Spring Mill Road from Kessler Boulevard in Indianapolis to and through Carmel to its
north boundary. We would like to be in the position of supporting a development, but it
is believed that many of the elements of the proposal will need to be discussed at some
length with the developer and others to create a development that is in greater harmony
with the surrounding residential area.
2. We only were made aware of this application at a meeting on Tuesday, November 23,
2010 (the week including Thanksgiving). Thomas Crowley of the firm Gershman Brown
Crowley and Steve Pittman, whose family owns the land, met with three members of the
Williams Mill Association. The PUD application was filed effective Monday, December
20, 2010. As you are aware, the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is often taken
up with planning for the holidays and taking care of year -end business and personal
matters. Attention is often diverted from other matters. The length and detail in the PUD
application imply that this application had been prepared after many weeks of work. We
ask that the Plan Commission allow sufficient time for our Board to review the
application and prepare for the meeting.
3. As stated above, many of our residents spend several months during the winter in warmer
climates. I am aware that about a dozen of our neighbors (25 have already left or are
leaving shortly for Florida and other places. Others that I am not aware of may also be
gone for extended periods. In many cases, they will not be fully apprised of the proposed
PUD until they return.
4. More importantly, the Board President (the writer) and last year's Vice President (this
year's Treasurer), the most senior class of directors, leave shortly for North Carolina and
Florida. This year's Vice President has only been a board member since our annual
meeting in October 2010. Other members of the Board have been helpful, but they are
less active. Without the two most senior board members, Williams Mill would be at a
severe disadvantage at the February Plan Commission meeting and /or in meetings with
the developer.
For the above reasons, we ask that the Plan Commission table discussion and action on the PUD
until your April or May meeting.
Thank you for your attention and response to this request. You may reach me at the telephone
numbers or the e -mail address below.
Sincerely,
Carter Jerman, President
Williams Mill Homeowners Association
cjerman@fiscobiz.com
Home 317 -575 -8575
Cell 812- 350 -1253