Notice to Neighbors
September 23, 2022
RE: Notice of Neighborhood Meeting
Conner Prairie Site Master Plan PUD
Docket No. PZ-2022-00172
Dear Neighbor:
I would like to invite you to a neighborhood meeting regarding the future of Conner Prairie. There will be two
opportunities to participate: Tuesday, October 4th, 2022 at 6:30 PM at Conner Prairie (13400 Allisonville Rd,
Fishers, IN 46038), and Wednesday, October 12th, 2022 at 6:30 PM at Conner Prairie (13400 Allisonville Rd,
Fishers, IN 46038).
Conner Prairie is developing plans for their property on the west side of the White River from 146th Street to Tall
Timber Run, East of River Road. These ideas are currently being reviewed with the City of Carmel. At these two
neighborhood meetings, we will review a rezone application filed by Conner Prairie Museum, Inc., who is
requesting a rezone approval to the “Conner Prairie Site Master Plan Planned Unit Development Ordinance.”
Enclosed with this letter is a site map, project description, and supporting imagery. For more information on the
proposal and to provide feedback online, please go to https://www.connerprairie.org/west-side-expansion/. You can
also use the QR code included on the last page of this packet to access our website.
We look forward to meeting with you to discuss our plans and receive feedback on Tuesday, October 4th, 2022 at
6:30 PM or Wednesday, October 12th, 2022 at 6:30 PM.
This matter is identified by the City of Carmel Plan Commission as Docket Number PZ-2022-00172 PUD and this
request will be on the City of Carmel Plan Commission’s Agenda for their Tuesday, October 18, 2022, meeting,
which begins at 6:00 p.m., at the Carmel City Hall, Council Chambers, One Civic Square, 2nd Floor, Carmel, IN
46032. The Request and the associated plans and exhibits may be examined on the City’s website, through Public
Documents – Laser Fische. This Plan Commission meeting can be viewed online via the City’s website or on
Carmel TV. Further, all interested persons desiring to present their views on the above Request are encouraged to
submit written comments, up to 4:00 p.m., the day of the meeting, via email to Joe Shestak administrative assistant:
jshestak@carmel.in.gov or via mail to Joe Shestak, Secretary, City of Carmel Plan Commission, Carmel City Hall,
One Civic Square, Carmel, IN 46032; Phone: (317) 571-2417. Members of the public may also present their
comments in-person by attending at this Plan Commission meeting.
Regards,
Norman Burns
President, Chief Executive Officer
Conner Prairie is a unique historic place that inspires curiosity and fosters learning by providing
engaging and individualized experiences for everyone. The seeds that grew to be Conner Prairie were
planted by Eli Lilly in 1934 when he acquired the William Conner home and began its restoration.
Today, Conner Prairie is a Smithsonian Affiliate and has gained a national reputation as an award-
winning museum and is one of the most visited outdoor museums and experiential sites in the
country. Conner Prairie has proven its ability to combine history and STEM and continues to serve
fourth graders throughout the state of Indiana in addition to life-long learners from all fifty states.
With our eye to the future, Conner Prairie has embarked on a new journey which comprehensively
considers and evaluates the long-term potential of Conner Prairie’s 1,046 acres of land and 3.3 miles
of the White River splitting the property. This effort was informed by a 10-month collaborative
process that engaged over 225 people.
As a preeminent interactive history museum, Conner Prairie has embraced the White River as a
resource for its future success and growth. In addition to this internal effort, the White River Vision
plan, a regional collaboration between Hamilton and Marion counties, identified opportunities to
improve the White River corridor experience and support economic development that will make the
White River a destination for all. As a uniquely positioned regional location and one of the largest
remaining private landowners along the White River, Conner Prairie became a focused partner to
initiate several projects to support the White River vision.
As a “connector of places", Conner Prairie embraces our land and water resources for the benefit of
visitors local, regional, and beyond. The culmination of the efforts outlined above have evolved into
the vision of the Conner Prairie Site Master Plan (SMP). Several projects identified in the SMP are
underway including partnerships such as Conner Prairie’s Shoreline Stabilization Project, Indiana
Department of Natural Resources stream and wetland mitigation program and the extension of the
Carmel Parks and Recreation extension of the White River Greenway.
The planned urban development (PUD) presented to Carmel memorializes our plan in an effort to
change the zoning to allow Conner Prairie and their partners the opportunity to build the site master
plan, engage the White River as an experience to be enjoyed, educate people on sustainability and the
ecology of the region, and provide a space that innovates the way agriculture and the environment are
utilized to support a healthy future and the world around us. The PUD supports this effort by
focusing on:
• Improving the community trail infrastructure,
• Enhancing wetland and storm water management improvements,
• Expanding Conner Prairie’s unique experience offerings,
• Supporting sustainability education and innovation, and
• Improving hospitality opportunities in the northeast part of Clay Township.
For more information, please see the formal filing with the City of Carmel on their website or seek
out information and updates on the Conner Prairies website.
79.6 acres
67.3 acres
96.1 acres
14.9 acres
CONNER PRAIRIE
E 146TH STREETE 146TH STREET
E 146TH STREETE 146TH STREET
RIVER ROADRIVER ROADRIVER ROADRIVER ROADWHITE RIVER
CHERRY CREEK BLVDCHERRY CREEK BLVD
ALLISONVILLE ROADALLISONVILLE ROADCO
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ECOMMUNITY DRCOMMUNITY DRCOMMUNITY DRCOMMUNITY DRExhibit a
0 100 200 400 600 1,000
NORTH
Conner Prairie Site Master Plan PUD
Proposed Site
W HITE RIVERWHITE RIVERRIVER ROADRIVER ROADCHERRY CREEK BOULEVARDCHERRY CREEK BOULEVARDCOMMUNITY DRIVECOMMUNITY DRIVEPLANNED PLANNED
THOMAS MARCUCCILLI THOMAS MARCUCCILLI
NATURE PARKNATURE PARK
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White River Education Center
Innovation Center
Lodge Hotel
Cabins in floodplain on stilts
Cabins out floodplain
Farm-to-Table Restaurant - 1
Farm-to-Table Restaurant - 2
Commercial building - 1
Commercial building - 2
Food, Farm and Energy Entry
Food, Farm and Energy Exhibits
Icon / branding opportunity
Theatre classroom
Mr. Lilly’s farm
Celebration of food
Modern farm
Existing maintenance building
Maintenance building - 1
Expansion building - 1
Legend
2
23
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27
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1 Expansion building - 2
Existing buildings
Solar Field
Parking Improvements
Overflow Parking
Crop application site
Livestock application site
Well aquifer exhibit
River Excursions
Signature Pedestrian Bridge
Trails
Trail that connects to river road
Loop Road
Orchard
Woodland
Prairie
Wetlands
Boardwalks
Oxbow Trail River Hub
0’200’ 400’ 600’
Conner Prairie - West Side Expansion
Master Plan
EXHIBIT EEXHIBIT E
Conner Prairie PUD - Architectural Character Imagery
Zone 1
Zone 2
Zone 3
Zone 2
Overall Character
EXHIBIT IEXHIBIT I
Conner Prairie - West Side Expansion
White River Education and Ecology Center
VIEWING SOUTH TOWARDS WHITE RIVER
EXHIBIT GEXHIBIT G
Conner Prairie - West Side Expansion
White River Education and Ecology Center
VIEWING NORTH EAST
EXHIBIT JEXHIBIT J
VIEWING SOUTH
Conner Prairie - West Side Expansion
EXHIBIT HEXHIBIT H
Conner Prairie - West Side Expansion
White River Education and Ecology Center
VIEWING SOUTH EAST TOWARDS ENTRANCE
Architectural Character Imagery
For more information on the proposal and to provide feedback online, please scan
this QR code or go to https://www.connerprairie.org/west-side-expansion/.
W HITE RIVERWHITE RIVERRIVER ROADRIVER ROADCHERRY CREEK BOULEVARDCHERRY CREEK BOULEVARDCOMMUNITY DRIVECOMMUNITY DRIVEPLANNED PLANNED
THOMAS MARCUCCILLI THOMAS MARCUCCILLI
NATURE PARKNATURE PARK
2
23
3
24
4
25
26
27
25
25
5
28
29
6 30
31
32
33
34
35
38
37
36
36
7
8
9
10
11
21
22
12
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14
15
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19
20
1
12
White River Education Center
Innovation Center
Lodge Hotel
Cabins in floodplain on stilts
Cabins out floodplain
Farm-to-Table Restaurant - 1
Farm-to-Table Restaurant - 2
Commercial building - 1
Commercial building - 2
Food, Farm and Energy Entry
Food, Farm and Energy Exhibits
Icon / branding opportunity
Theatre classroom
Mr. Lilly’s farm
Celebration of food
Modern farm
Existing maintenance building
Maintenance building - 1
Expansion building - 1
Legend
2
23
3
24
4
26
25
5
27
28
6
29
30
31
32
33
34
37
38
35
36
7
8
9
10
11
22
12
13
14
15
16
18
19
17
20
21
1 Expansion building - 2
Existing buildings
Solar Field
Parking Improvements
Overflow Parking
Crop application site
Livestock application site
Well aquifer exhibit
River Excursions
Signature Pedestrian Bridge
Trails
Trail that connects to river road
Loop Road
Orchard
Woodland
Prairie
Wetlands
Boardwalks
Oxbow Trail River Hub
0’200’ 400’ 600’
Conner Prairie - West Side Expansion
Master Plan
EXHIBIT EEXHIBIT E
W HITE RIVERWHITE RIVERRIVER ROADRIVER ROADCHERRY CREEK BOULEVARDCHERRY CREEK BOULEVARDCOMMUNITY DRIVECOMMUNITY DRIVEPLANNED PLANNED
THOMAS MARCUCCILLI THOMAS MARCUCCILLI
NATURE PARKNATURE PARK
2
23
3
24
4
25
26
27
25
25
5
28
29
6 30
31
32
33
34
35
38
37
36
36
7
8
9
10
11
21
22
12
13
14
15
16
18
17
19
20
1
12
White River Education Center
Innovation Center
Lodge Hotel
Cabins in floodplain on stilts
Cabins out floodplain
Farm-to-Table Restaurant - 1
Farm-to-Table Restaurant - 2
Commercial building - 1
Commercial building - 2
Food, Farm and Energy Entry
Food, Farm and Energy Exhibits
Icon / branding opportunity
Theatre classroom
Mr. Lilly’s farm
Celebration of food
Modern farm
Existing maintenance building
Maintenance building - 1
Expansion building - 1
Legend
2
23
3
24
4
26
25
5
27
28
6
29
30
31
32
33
34
37
38
35
36
7
8
9
10
11
22
12
13
14
15
16
18
19
17
20
21
1 Expansion building - 2
Existing buildings
Solar Field
Parking Improvements
Overflow Parking
Crop application site
Livestock application site
Well aquifer exhibit
River Excursions
Signature Pedestrian Bridge
Trails
Trail that connects to river road
Loop Road
Orchard
Woodland
Prairie
Wetlands
Boardwalks
Oxbow Trail River Hub
0’200’ 400’ 600’
Conner Prairie - West Side Expansion
Master Plan
EXHIBIT EEXHIBIT E
Map Legend