[A. Call to Order]
[00:00:18]
>> YOU PLEASE STAND WITH ME FOR THE PLEDGE?
>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
>> THANK YOU. WILL YOU CALL THE ROLL PLEASE?
>> YES . SALIM NAJJAR? >> PRESENT.
[D. Declaration of Quorum]
>> DENNIS LOCKWOOD. >> PRESENT.
[E. Approval of Minutes and Findings of Facts of Previous Meetings]
>> CHRISTINE ZACCOLA. >> PRESENT. ALL RIGHT. SEEM THAT WE HAVE A QUORUM, WE WILL PROCEED. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND FINDINGS OF FACT FROM THE
>> SECOND. >> FIRST AND SECOND, ALL IN
FAVOR. >> AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MINUTES ARE APPROVED. DO WE HAVE ANY EXPENDITURES TO REPORT?
>> I HAVE NOTHING TO ADD. >> THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER REPORTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR LEGAL COUNSEL
REPORT OR DEPARTMENT CONCERNS? >> NO, NOTHING FROM ME.
[H. (SE) Brewer Short Term Residential Rental. ]
>> THANKS. WE WILL LAUNCH INTO OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS. THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS THE BREWER SHORT-TERM RESIDENTIAL RENTAL DOCKET NUMBER PZ 2025 IN GRAMERCY WEST PUD SECTIONS 3 AND FOUR POINT ONE, SPECIAL EXCEPTION FOR THE SHORT TERM RESIDENTIAL AND PETITIONER, WILL YOU PLEASE STEP UP? YOU GOT IT?
CAN YOU HEAR ME? AWESOME. >> HELLO, GOOD EVENING.
>> DID YOU -- YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND PRESENT WHATEVER YOU'D LIKE. YOU HAVE UP TO 15 MINUTES. DON'T FEEL IT NECESSARY TO TAKE
IT ALL. >> OKAY, GOOD, THEN I DID EMAIL
YOU GUYS. >> START WITH YOUR NAME, I'M SORRY, I SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID THAT.
>> IS IS MY FIRST TIME ON THIS AND THIS PROCESS SO I AM HERE TODAY TO RESPECTFULLY REQUEST A SPECIAL EXEMPTION TO ALLOW THE USE OF MY PROPERTY AS A SHORT TERM RENTAL AND THE CURRENT REGULATIONS DO NOT PERMIT THE STRRS BUT WITH YOUR APPROVAL I'M HOPING THAT I CAN GET A VARIANCE SO THAT I CAN LEGALLY OPERATE AS A SHORT TERM RENTAL AT MY HOME AT 1045 BALLANTINE LANE, CARMEL, INDIANA 46032. IT IS GRAMERCY WEST AND I LIVE RIGHT ON A POND ABOUT FIVE HOUSES DOWN FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S A WALKABLE COMMUNITY THAT'S IS TO A LOT OF AMENITIES AT CITY CENTER, THE PALLADIUM, MIDTOWN, ARTS DISTRICT, AND I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE SOMETHING WHERE PEOPLE CAN STAY AND ENJOY THE AMENITIES THAT CARMEL HAS TO OFFER. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> JUST FOR THE RECORD WILL YOU STATE YOUR NAME?
>> MELANIE BREWER. >> THANK YOU. IS ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS PETITION? ALL RIGHT. ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK FOR THE PETITION? MELANIE, WOULD YOU STEP DOWN PLEASE AND YOU HAVE UP TO THREE MINUTES TO SHARE WHATEVER YOU WOULD LIKE, AND MA'AM, IF YOU WOULD STEP OVER AND JUST BE
>> NO, OKAY, NEVERMIND . GO AHEAD. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME
FOR THE RECORD FIRST. >> MY NAME IS MICHAEL AN. I LIVE AT 616 LAGERFELD DRIVING THE GRAMERCY WEST COMMUNITY. I'M HERE TO OPPOSE THAT EXEMPTION. JUST BECAUSE THERE'S A FEW THINGS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ARE GOING ON, THE COMMITTEE IS JUST FINISHING UP, THE LAST HOMES ARE BEING BUILT, THE HOMEOWNERS ARE STARTING TO GET EVER TO GET READY TO TAKE OVER THE HOA FROM THE DEVELOPER AND START THAT TRANSITION PLAN OR PROCESS. IT SHOULD BE FINISHED BY THE END OF THE YEAR. AS FAR AS THE SHORT TERM RENTAL, I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST IT BUT I THINK FOR THIS COMMUNITY, AS IT IS PRETTY SMALL, ABOUT 200 UNITS, IT WOULD BE IDEAL THAT THE PETITIONER WOULD BRING IT TO THE BOARD OR AN HOA, PRESENT IT TO THEM, GET THEIR ENDORSEMENT FOR THAT IS BROUGHT TO THE COUNCIL HERE SO JUST MORE COMMUNITY INPUT AND GET THAT APPROVAL BEFORE THERE WOULD BE AN
[00:05:01]
EXEMPTION TO THE RULE. >> THANK YOU. YOU CAN RESPOND IF
YOU'D LIKE. >> WHAT DID YOU SAY YOUR NAME
WAS, I'M SORRY? >> AYE MICHAEL, I'M MELANIE,
NICE TO MEET YOU. >> MELANIE, I NEED YOU TO
ADDRESS THE BOARD. >> BOARD, I RESPECTFULLY CAN UNDERSTAND THAT REQUEST AND I DON'T THINK IT'S OUT OF QUESTION. I'M HAPPY TO GO TO A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND TALK WITH THE NEIGHBORS THERE. I DON'T SEE ANY ISSUE WITH THAT, I MEAN IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S NORMALLY DONE. I KNOW THAT HOA ISN'T REALLY IN PLACE YET BUT I'M HAPPY TO GO TO THE MEETING AND TALK WITH THE RESIDENTS, AND ADDRESS THEIR ISSUES AND THEIR PROBLEMS. THE GOOD THING ABOUT THE SHORT TERM RENTAL IS I GET TO CHOOSE AND THAT THOSE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN RENTING THE PROPERTY, THOUGH THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE ANY KIND OF PARTY OR, YOU KNOW, BIG GROUP STAYING AT MY HOME, IT'S ONLY GOING TO BE FOR 4 PEOPLE MAX AND I HAVE A PLACE FOR PARKING IN MY GARAGE. THIS WILL BE USED SPECIFICALLY FOR EVENTS THAT COME TO CARMEL, THAT PEOPLE WILL LIKELY TRAVEL EITHER FOR INDIANAPOLIS OR THE CITY OF CARMEL, WHETHER IT'S OUR AUTOMOBILE EVENTS OR MAINSTREET EVENTS, ANYWHERE FROM THAT TO THE INDIANAPOLIS SPEEDWAY SO THE INTENTION IS REALLY JUST TO PROVIDE THAT EXTRA PLACE FOR CARMEL TO HELP THE ECONOMY AND HAVE PEOPLE STAY IN THE HOMES, AND HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO, OTHER THAN JUST THE HOTELS THAT SOMETIMES CAN BE BOOKED FULL.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. >> THE DEPARTMENT REPORT,
PLEASE. >> THANK YOU. AS THE PETITIONER STATED, SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPROVAL IS REQUIRED FOR SHORT-TERM RESIDENTIAL RENTAL. THE PETITIONER SEEKS APPROVAL TO RENT OUT A THREE BEDROOM, 2 1/2 BATH HOUSE. OFFSTREET PARKING IS ALLOWED ON SITE AS WELL AS IN THE NEARBY GUEST PARKING AREAS THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS PROVIDED. THE DEVELOPER HAS INCLUDED IT AS A PARKING OPTION. THE ORDINANC DOES STATE THAT INITIAL REQUEST FOR SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS SHALL NOT GENERALLY BE ENTITLED TO FAVORABLE CONSIDERATIN BUT THERE ARE ALSO CRITERIA FOR THE BASIS OF REVIEW THAT WE LOOK AT, AS WELL AS THE CRITERIA FOR THE BASIS OF APPROVAL OR REJECTION, AND THAT'S IN THE STAFF REPORT. ALSO, PLANNING STAFF HAS COORDINATED WITH THE CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO INCIDENTS OR CASES REPORTED FOR THE SITE IN THE PAST YEAR. SO PLANNING STAFF DOES RECOMMEND CONSIDERATION OF THIS ATTENTION AS WELL AS THE ADOPTION OF THE FINDINGS OF FACT AND WE'D ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT IF APPROVED IT IS VALID FOR ONE YEAR SO THEY'D HAVE TO COME BACK AT THE END OF THE YEAR FOR REAPPROVAL. THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. >> BOARD MEMBERS?
>> I'M SORRY, I AM NOT CLEAR ON ONE QUESTION, IF I MAY. ARE YOU PART OF A HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION?
>> I HAVE NOT ATTENDED ANY OF THE MEETINGS THAT THEY'VE HELD.
>> BUT ARE YOU A PART OF IT? >> NO, WE DON'T -- ACTUALLY WE DON'T HAVE ONE IN PLACE. IT'S STILL RAN BY THE DEVELOPER, SO IT'S LIKE WE HAVEN'T VOTED ON LIKE AN HOA BOARD AND WHATNOT.
THERE'S A MEETING IN AUGUST, I THINK, ON MY CALENDAR IT'S LIKE
SOMETIME IN AUGUST. >> SO NO HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION APPROVAL IS REQUIRED FOR WHAT YOU ARE PETITIONING 2
>> IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THERE IS NO HOA APPROVAL REQUIRED FOR
>> ALONG THAT LINE, IS THERE -- AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW OR MAYBE ANYBODY KNOWS, DOES THE PUD -- THAT WAS UNDER A PUD -- DO THEY HAVE ANY LANGUAGE RELATIVE TO THIS TYPE OF USE?
>> WE DID CHECK THE PUD ORDINANCE LANGUAGE AND IT REFERS -- IT A SICKLY REFERS BACK TO OUR UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE HERE TODAY, TO SEEK
SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPROVAL. >> OKAY. ADDITIONALLY, HAVE YOU TAKEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE SOME OF THESE FREEBIE WEEKENDS, IS THAT WHAT THEY'RE CALLED, TO USE YOUR HOUSE AS A SHORT TERM
[00:10:05]
>> YET, HAVE YOU USED THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THOSE FREE
WEEKENDS AT ALL? >> NO I HAVEN'T.
>> OKAY. SO I GUESS THE MAIN -- WHY DO YOU WANT TO USE YOUR
HOUSE AS A SHORT-TERM RENTAL? >> I THINK HELP WITH MY OFFSET, MY OWN CHARGES FOR MY MORTGAGE MEAN THERE'S THAT AND THEN JUST CREATING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHERS TO HAVE A PLACE TO STAY AND UTILIZE THE AMENITIES AND THE CARMEL COMMUNITY.
>> WELL I DID NOTICE THAT FROM SOME OF THE DIAGRAMS AND PHOTOGRAPHS THAT I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT PARKING, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE ALREADY ADDRESSED THE FACT THAT YOU WOULD ALLOW THEM TO PARK IN YOUR GARAGE, SO THAT TAKES CARE OF THAT ISSUE.
THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS HOW ARE YOU PLANNING TO MANAGE THE RENTERS OF YOUR PROPERTY? ARE YOU GOING TO STILL RESIDE THERE WHILE THEY RENT A ROOM OR HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT HOW THAT
WORKS? >> NO, I WILL SEEK OTHER ACCOMMODATIONS WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHILE I'M RENTING OUT.
>> AND THAT WOULD BE LOCAL? >> YES.
>> THANK YOU. >> DO YOU KNOW OF THE FREE
WEEKENDS, OF THE FREE TIMES? >> YES.
>> OKAY. THIS IS YOUR PRIMARY RESIDENCE?
>> CORRECT. >> I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS. SO LOOKING AT THE PROPERTY, THIS HOUSE IS SET WITHIN JUST A COUPLE FEET, NEXT TO YOUR NEIGHBORS.
>> CORRECT. >> SO THERE'S NO OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A FENCE OR HAVE TREES, SOME SORT OF BUFFER, SHOULD THERE BE A PARTY GOING ON OR LOUD NOISE. WHAT IS YOUR PLAN IN CASE IT IS VERY LOUD? BECAUSE WHERE THIS PROPERTY IS SITUATED, THERE'S ACTUALLY NO BUFFER BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR TWO NEIGHBORS. YOU'RE LITERALLY, IS IT THREE FEET APART, FIVE FEET APART, IT'S VERY CLOSE? DO YOU HAVE A PLAN FOR MANAGING NOISE, MANAGING WHAT HAPPENS IN THE HOUSE ?
>> THE ONLY THING I CAN SAY IS I THINK LIVING IN THAT AREA AND BEING THAT CLOSE, YOU EXPECT TO HEAR NOISES FROM NEIGHBORS, DOG BARKING, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, AND I WILL HAVE DEAL WITH THAT CASE-BY-CASE. MY OWN NEIGHBOR COULD HAVE A PARTY, VERY WELL AS EASILY AS FOUR PEOPLE STAYING AT MY HOUSE COULD HAVE A PARTY. SO UNFORTUNATELY I CAN'T DIRECTLY CONTROL THAT BEFORE IT'S HAPPENING BUT I DEFINITELY WILL TAKE EXTRA EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THERE'S ANY COMPLAINTS, I'LL BE THE FIRST ONE THEY CALL SO THAT I CAN GO TO THE HOUSE OR MAKE CONTACT WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE SURE THAT I KEEP IT UNDER CONTROL.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION. I WILL ALSO SAY THE PETITIONER'S CONCERN, I THINK I CAN SYMPATHIZE WITH HIS POSITION. THIS IS A REALLY OLD PUD. IT WAS ADOPTED IN 2018. IF THIS WERE TO COME FOR TODAY IT'S, YOU KNOW THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL IS ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RADAR, SO WE WOULD END UP LIKELY ADDING A PROHIBITION AGAINST SHORT-TERM RENTALS. IN THIS CASE, THIS IS SUCH AN OLD PUD, I DON'T THINK IT WAS QUITE ON EVERYBODY'S RADAR BACK IN 2013. HOWEVER, I DID CHECK THE COVENANTS AND EVEN THOUGH THERE IS STILL WITH THE DEVELOPER, IT DOES HAVE IN THERE THAT EACH LOT SHALL BE OCCUPIED BY A SINGLE FAMILY, ONLY FOR RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES AND WHILE THAT'S MAYBE NOT QUITE AS CLEAR AS WE WOULD ALL LIKE, IT SEEMS LIKE THE INTENTION OF THE THE DEVELOPER WAS THIS WAS TO BE A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. SO I ALSO -- I COULD UNDERSTAND WHERE THE COMMENT ABOUT LET'S GIVE THE HOA AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON THIS, BECAUSE THAT CAN HAVE -- A LOT OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS, ESPECIALLY WITH THESE HOUSES AS CLOSE AS THEY ARE, CAN DRAMATICALLY CHANGE THE LOOK AND THE FEEL OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND IF THE INTENTION OF THIS WAS TO BE RESIDENTIAL SO I'M SOMEWHAT RELUCTANT TO APPROVE IT IN THIS LOCATION, GIVEN THAT THIS -- THE DEVELOPER IS PLANNING TO TURN IT OVER PRETTY SOON TO THE HOA WITHOUT THE HOA HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON THIS ISSUE. SO I DO HAVE SOME HESITANCY HERE OF THIS ONE.
>> I DO WANT TO POINT OUT AND REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THIS IS FOR ONE YEAR PER SO AS A NEIGHBOR, IF THERE IS AN ISSUE IN THAT YEAR, ANY CODE ENFORCEMENT OR POLICE CALLED, OR LOUD PARTIES, IT WILL COME TO THIS BOARD'S ATTENTION WHEN IT WILL COME UP FOR RENEWAL IN A YEAR. SO YOU ARE ON A YEAR LIMIT AND IT BE A YEAR TEST RUN. THE FIRST APPROVAL IS ALWAYS A TEST RUN. TO GET REAPPROVED AFTER A YEAR. I'M ONE OF THE MORE DIFFICULT RUNS ON SHORT TERM RENTALS. BUT THIS AREA, BEING IN
[00:15:11]
THE CORE, IF THERE IS NO ISSUE IN THAT YEAR I MEAN I'M GOING TO TAKE THIS ONE AS A TEST FOR ME.>> I HAVE TO SAY I'M A LITTLE TORN BECAUSE IT IS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD BUT IT ALSO IS SUPPOSED TO DOWN HERE, DOWNTOWN, CITY CENTER AND MAIN STREET, WHERE WE HAVE SO MANY ACTIVITIES AND IT'S AN IDEAL LOCATION FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE TRAVELING IN. SO I AM A YEAR TRIAL AS WELL. I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION. DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER COMMENT OR QUESTION . I'D ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
>> MOVED TO APPROVE. >> SECOND.
>> OKAY. MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION HE'LL ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR, AYE? ANY OPPOSED , AYE.
>> THANK YOU, IT'S APPROVED . >> ALL RIGHT. OUR NEXT ITEM ON
[H. (V) Merchants Bank HQ2 Roof Sign Variance. ]
THE AGENDA, THE MERCHANTS BANK HEADQUARTER HQ2 ROOF SIGNED VARIANCE, APPLICANT SEEKS DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS VARIANCE AND APPROVALS FOR ONE ROOF SIGNED, DOCKET NUMBER PZ 2025>> YOU WERE ON, THERE YOU GO. >> THANK YOU. AYE MY NAME IS WENDY CREECH, I'M THE 80 CF PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AT MERCHANTS BANK AND I'D LIKE TO READ A STATEMENT. ON BEHALF OF MERCHANTS BANK WE ARE SEEKING APPROVAL FOR ONE ROOF SIGNED TO BE PLACED ON THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF OUR SECOND HEADQUARTER BUILDING LOCATED AT 420 THIRD AVENUE SOUTHWEST. THE PROPOSED ROOF SIGN IS CONSISTENT WITH THE ROOF SIGNS PERMANENTLY AFFIXED TO HQ ONE AT 410 MINIMUM BULLARD. THROUGHOUT THIS STATEMENT I WILL REFERENCE THE BUILDINGS OF HQ ONE AND HQ2. THE HQ2 BUILDING HAS SOUTH AND EAST STREET FRONTAGES. C 2 ZONING PERMITS ONE SIGN PER STREET FRONTAGE, MAXIMUM FREE SIGNS, AND WHILE ROOF SIGNAGE IS GENERALLY PROHIBITED, THE ROOF SIGN IS WHAT CARMEL APPROVED FOR MERCHANTS BACK IN 2017. SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT HISTORY. WHEN MERCHANTS APPROVED OR APPROACHED THE BZA IN 2017, THE REQUESTED ROOF SIGNED VARIANCE FOR THE REQUESTED SIGNED VARIANCE, THE ROOF SIGN WAS APPROVED BY MISSOURI. THE SIGN IS ELEGANT, TASTEFUL, AND TRULY UNDERSTATED FOR AN INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL COMPANY BRINGING HUNDREDS OF JOBS TO THE CARMEL AREA EVERY YEAR. PETITIONER STATEMENTS FROM THE 2017 APPROVAL DISCUSSED THE ORIGINAL DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR THIS INDUSTRIAL AREA OF CARMEL, WHICH INCLUDES ROOFTOP SIGNS. THE INTENTIONAL DESIGN OF THE MERCHANT SIGN PAYS HOMAGE TO CARMEL'S INDUSTRIAL DESIGN TENT AND WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY THE BZA. THE CONDITION ATTACHED TO THE 2017 UNANIMOUS APPROVAL APPLIES ONLY TO HQ ONE AND CORRELATES TO THE NUMBER OF STREET FRONTAGES ADJACENT TO HQ ONE. THE CONDITION IS NOT RELATED TO HQ2 WITH TWO STREET FRONTAGES AND RIGHTS TO SIGN INTO ITS OWN. JUMPING FORWARD TO THE REQUEST TODAY, I'VE READ THE FINDINGS AND WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS WHY THE FINDINGS ARE NOT FEASIBLE. THE D.O.T. STATEMENTS SUGGEST USING ALTERNATES TO THE ROOF SIGN INCLUDING CANOPY BLADE AND PROJECTING AND WALL SIGNS. EACH OF THE SIGN TYPES HAVE BEEN REVIEWED AND DEEMED INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE EXISTING CONDITIONS.
CAN BE SIGNED DOESN'T APPLY. A BLADE OR PROJECTING SIGN WOULD VISUALLY OVERLAP AND THE OBSTRUCTED BY A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE OVER THIRD AVENUE SOUTHWEST. SEE HOW THAT WOULD WORK. AWOL SIGN OFFERS NO VISIBILITY FROM THE NORTH HEADING SOUTH. AND LIMITED VISIBILITY FROM THE EAST HEADING WEST. KIND OF HAVE TO ACTUALLY COME THIS WAY IN ORDER TO EVEN GET A QUARTER OF IT. MOREOVER, IT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR CONSISTENT DESIGN TREATMENT AS REQUIRED BY VIDEO FIVE POINT 39 L6 STATING THAT THE SIGN SHOULD FOLLOW THE PERMANENT SIGN STANDARDS BY BUILDING MORE COMPLEX. 5.39356 AND SEVEN FURTHER REQUIRE THAT ALL WALL SIGNS ELEMENTS OF THE BUILDING. WALL SIGNS CANNOT
[00:20:03]
EXTEND ABOVE THE CORNICE OR ROOF AND ALL WALL SIGNS MUST BE DESIGNED TO RELATE TO THE ARCHITECTURAL STYLE OF THE MAIN BUILDING OR BUILDINGS ON THE SITE. THESE COMPOUNDING UTO REQUIREMENTS COUPLED WITH THE LACK OF VISIBILITY RENDERED THE WALL SIGN UNSUITED FOR HQ2. CANOPY DOESN'T WORK. BLADE DOESN'T WORK AND THE WALL SIGN DOESN'T WORK. I'VE ALSO STUDIED AND ASSESSED THE NOTION OF MOVING A SIGN FROM HQ ONE TO HQ2. THE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES IMPOSED ON MERCHANTS AND THE CITY OF CARMEL ARE SUBSTANTIAL AND I CANNOT IN GOOD FAITH AND AS A FIDUCIARY ALLOW MY OWNERSHIP TO CONSIDER THAT PATH OR TELL YOU THAT IT'S A GOOD IDEA. THE STEEL FRAMED BRACKETING SYSTEM FOR EACH SIGN WAS A CUSTOM INSULATION AND A PERMANENT FIXTURE FOR EACH OF THE THREE LOCATIONS. THE FRAMES WERE PERMANENTLY AFFIXED SEVEN YEARS AGO AND INTENDED TO STAY IN PLACE FOR THE LIFE OF THE BUILDING. REMOVING THE FRAMES AND PRODUCES A SIGNIFICANT RISK TO THE STABILITY OF THE BRACKET.SIGNAGE COMPANIES ARE ACTUALLY RELUCTANT TO EVEN QUOTE A PROJECT WITH A BRACKET THAT'S BEEN MOVED. THE RISK OF FAILURE AND RELIABILITY IS JUST A GREAT. EQUALLY AS SUBSTANTIAL IS THE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES IMPOSED ON THE ROOFING MEMBRANE ITSELF.
TO REMOVE THE BRACKETING SYSTEM FROM ONE ROOF AND MOVE IT TO ANOTHER WEAKENS THE ROOF MEMBRANE AND INTRODUCES POINTS OF FAILURE AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEAKS. THIS IS NOT A RISK THAT I'M WILLING TO TAKE AND CERTAINLY NOT ONE THAT I CAN RECOMMEND TO MY OWNERSHIP TEAM. FOR THE IMPACT TO THE CITIZENS OF CARMEL, MOVING A SIGN WILL REQUIRE I CRANE WHICH WILL FORCE THE SHUTDOWN OF MONA AND ELLEN, BLOCK THE PRIMARY ENTRANCES TO THE RAILYARD AND MERCHANTS BANK AND DISRUPT THE ACTIVITY IN MIDTOWN PLAZA DUE TO ISSUES OF PUBLIC SAFETY. SO THIS BRINGS US BACK TO THE ROOF SIGN. APPROVING THE ROOF SIGN WILL BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY BY REDUCING CONFUSION FOR DRIVERS, RESIDENTS AND GUESTS. THERE'S A MINIMUM SETBACK BETWEEN PORTRAIT MIDTOWN, WHICH IS THE NEW MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT BETWEEN HQ2 AND ON THE WEST SIDE OF IT. THE SETBACKS ROUGHLY 27 FEET AND THESE BUILDINGS NEED TO BE DISTINCTLY IDENTIFIED WITH UNIQUE SIGNAGE. AGAIN, APPROVING THE ROOF SIGN WILL BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY BY POSITIVELY IMPACTING WAYFINDING AND LIMITING CONFUSION RELATED TO THE CITY OF CARMEL PUBLIC PARKING. THIS IS BENEFICIAL FOR RESIDENTS, RESIDENCE GOODS AND SERVICE DELIVERES, AND GUEST VISITS. PEOPLE TRAVERSING NORTHBOUND OR SOUTHBOUND ON THIRD AVENUE WILL BE LOOKING FOR THE NEW PUBLIC PARKING THAT CAN BE FOUND AT PORTRAIT MIDTOWN, AGAIN JUST WEST OF US. THE ROOF SIGN ON MERCHANTS HQ2 HELPS TO ESTABLISH CLARITY AND REINFORCES WAYFINDING. WE HAVE BEEN ASKED NUMEROUS TIMES IF THE BRIDGE THAT PROCESS THIRD AVENUE WILL CONNECT TO THAT NEW PARKING GARAGE. IT DOES NOT AND THEREFORE DISTINCT SIGNAGE IS NECESSARY TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN THE BUILDINGS. AGAIN, APPROVING THE ROOF SIGN WILL BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY BY INCREASING THE PHYSICAL RELATIONSHIP AND HUMAN SCALE BETWEEN THE SURROUNDING BUILDINGS AND BOLSTER THE UNIFORM DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE CITY OF CARMEL. APPROVING THE ROOF SIGN PROMOTES HARMONY AND ECHOES THE ESSENCE OF THE UTO, WHICH IS TO ENSURE THE CITY HAS MEANINGFUL AND IN GENERAL DESIGN AND FLOW. IN CLOSING, WE ARE SEEKING APPROVAL FOR ONE ROOF SIGN TO BE PLACED ON THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF OUR SECOND HEADQUARTERS BUILDING LOCATED AT 420 THIRD AVENUE SOUTHWEST. THE PROPOSED ROOF SIGN IS CONSISTENT WITH THE ROOF SIGNS PERMANENTLY AFFIXED AT HQ ONE. OTHER SIGN TYPES HAVE BEEN DEEMED NOT VIABLE. RELOCATION OF A SIGN IS HIGH RISK AND THE CURRENT ROOF SIGN WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED IN 2017. AND NOW WE ASK FOR ONE, ONE ROOF SIGN TO BE APPROVED ON OUR NEW HEADQUARTERS BUILDING. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS PETITION? I SEE ONE. OKAY. PETITIONER, YOU CAN STEP DOWN SO
THAT HE CAN -- THANK YOU. >> THREE MINUTES.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL. MY NAME IS JACK RUSSELL. I SERVE AS PRESIDENT OF ONE'S OWN GENDER. I'VE NOT GOT A CHANCE TO SPEAK AT THE BZA SO JUST A QUICK THING. NUMBER ONE, PROUD TO
[00:25:03]
SERVE AS THE FOURTH LARGEST CHAMBER IN THE STATE, SERVING 1300 MEMBERS, 550 OF WHICH CALL CARMEL HOME. ON BEHALF OF ONE'S OWN CHAMBER ON HERE TO EXPRESS OUR STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE ZONING VARIANCE REQUEST FOR MERCHANTS BANK PROPOSED SIGNAGE.THE ICON ONLY, TECH THREE DESIGN IS CLEAN AND MODERN AND IT FITS THE INDUSTRIAL STYLE OF THE NEW BUILDING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA. IT WAS DESIGNED TO MATCH THE MATERIALS LIKE METAL AND CONCRETE AND ADDS THE OVERALL LOOK WITHOUT BEING DISTRACTING.
THIS KIND OF SIGNAGE DOESN'T TAKE AWAY FROM THE BUILDING OR THE CORRIDOR. IT ACTUALLY HELPS TIE EVERYTHING TOGETHER, REFLECTS THE VISION OF THIS AREA AND SUPPORTS A PROFESSIONAL, CONSISTENT FEEL. MERCHANTS BANK IS A MAJOR EMPLOYER AND STRONG COMMUNITY PARTNER. THERE THOUGHTFUL APPROACH TO DESIGN SHOWS THEIR INVESTMENT IN DOING THINGS THE RIGHT WAY HERE IN THE CITY. WE RESPECTFULLY AT ONE'S OWN ASK FOR YOU TO SUPPORT THIS
REQUEST. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST THIS PETITION? OKAY. I SEE TWO HANDS, THREE HANDS. OKAY. PLEASE GO AHEAD AND WHOEVER WANTS TO GO FIRST, AND THEN WHOEVER WANTS TO GO NEXT, GO AHEAD AND LINE UP.
WE WILL DO THREE MINUTES EACH, PLEASE. THANK YOU. JUST REMEMBER TO STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE, BEFORE YOU
SPEAK. >> AYE, MY NAME IS CHARLES OMAR KHAN I LIVE AT 463 EMERSON ROAD . THAT IS JOHNSON ADDITION. I RUN THE FACEBOOK PAGE FOR JOHNSON ADDITION AND WILSON VILLAGE AND I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY SIGNAGE OF -- LOOK AT HOW IT'S GOING TO SHOW IN MY BACKYARD. I HAVE THREE OF HER YARDS THAT I BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO SHOW INTO. I HAVE A RESIDENT RIGHT OVER HERE, IT'S GOING TO SHOW INTO HER FRONT YARD AND JOHNSON ADDITION HAS BEEN FORCED ON THIS BUILDING. WE INITIALLY AGREED TO A THREE-STORY BUILDING AND THEN THE PRESIDENT OF MERCHANTS CHANGED IT TO A FIVE-STORY BUILDING. I WANT TO KNOW WHEN THE WINTER COMES, THAT THAT SIGN IS GOING TO SHINE INTO MY HOT TUB. I WANT TO KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO SHINE INTO RAILROAD BY THE MINT DOWN THERE. THERE'S A LOT OF HOMES THERE, A LOT OF APARTMENTS AND STUFF THAT IT'S GOING TO SHINE DIRECTLY INTO AND I STRONGL DISAGREE WITH IT'S GOING TO HELP THE COMMUNITY. EVERYONE HAS A GPS. IF YOU CAN'T FIND THE MERCHANTS BUILDING THAT'S ALREADY THERE, WELL I WON'T FINISH THAT SENTENCE. STRONGLY DISAGREE AND PEOPLE IN THE JOHNSON ADDITION, WILSON VILLAGE NEIGHBORHOOD, STRONGLY DISAGREE, THEY WANT THIS TO BE NOT APPROVED. THANK
>> HELLO. I'M KAREN KIRKMAN. MY HUSBAND AND I LIVE AT DRIVE. THE BACK OF OUR PROPERTY BUTTS RIGHT UP THE INDUSTRIAL DRIVE. WE CAN SEE THE SIX STORY BUILDING. WE CAN SEE ALL THE STEPS UP THERE.
OUR HOT TUB IS OUT THERE. WE MAINTAINED OUT IN THE BACKYARD AND IT APPEARS LOOKING AT THE PICTURES THAT IT WAS ONLY AFFECT THE RESIDENTS THAT WERE RIGHT IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA, SO AS CHARLIE SAID, IT'S OVER IN WILSON ADDITION, IT'S OVER IN JOHNSON ADDITION, SO I DIDN'T HEAR IN THE BEGINNING, MAYBE THEY SAID WHAT THE SIZE OF THE SIGN AND IS IT LIT.
>> THIS IS NOT A BACK AND FORTH CONVERSATION.
>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE SIZE OF THE IS AND WHETHER IT'S LATE BECAUSE WE DO SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN OUR BACKYARD AND EVERY DAY WHEN I GET UP I LOOK AT OUR KITCHEN WINDOW AND OUR FAMILY ROOM, AND ALL WE SEE IS THAT BUILDING EVERY DAY. I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANOTHER STORY AND A HALF SIGN THAT LIT OR WHATEVER SHOWING THEIR, SO I APPRECIATE IT,
>> HELLO. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE A FEW
THINGS. >> PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FIRST
FOR THE RECORD, THANK YOU. >> MY NAME IS KELLY BASKET AND I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW IF THAT SIGN IS LIKE TO WORK I WAS KIND OF UNDER THE IMPRESSION IT WAS. I WANTED TO SHOW A QUICK OVERVIEW OF WHERE THIS IS EXACTLY, THE RED X IS ABOUT WHERE THE SIGN WOULD BE. ALL OF THESE YELLOW LINES, THOSE ARE SINGLE-FAMILY OMES. THOSE ARE PERSONAL SINGLE-FAMILY HOME. THIS BUILDING THAT WAS APPROVED, BUILT DIRECTLY BEHIND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT'S -- SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE AND IT'S 72 FEET TALL AND BECAUSE IT'S NESTLED RIGHT INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL AS THE VERY BEAUTIFUL HOMES RIGHT OFF THE PHONE ON, ALL OF THAT IS
[00:30:06]
SINGLE-FAMILY AND THE APARTMENTS AND THE RAILYARD, THAT IS ALL SINGLE. BIZARRE APARTMENTS, WITH SOME EXCUSE, IS THERE ON THE MONON, WHERE SEVERAL BUSINESSES ARE. IT'S A VERY BEAUTIFUL BUILDING, VERY WELL LABELED, AND THAT SIGN THAT WAS APPROVED A HANDFUL OF YEARS AGO, IN 27 , IS RIGHT SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF MIDTOWN, AND IT'S APPROPRIATE THERE. IT DOESN'T BOTHER ANYBODY. THAT'S WHERE MOST OF THE BUSINESSES ARE. THERE'S HARDLY ANY PERSONAL RESIDENCES RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT OPTIONS THERE MIGHT BE TO HAVE A SIGN THAT'S CERTAINLY NOT A 20 FOOT SIGN . I HAVE A COUPLE OF ELEVATIONS AND I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED. ANOTHER QUESTION MAYBE SOMEBODY COULD ANSWER AT SOME POINT IS HOW MANY OF THESE SIDES TO THE SIGN ARE THERE? BECAUSE THIS GREEN M, THIS IS THE NORTH ELEVATION. THIS FACES OUR HOUSE, LIKE FACES OUR HOUSE AS WELL AS MANY, MANY OTHER HOMES, BUT IT FACES OUR HOUSE AND THEN SO THAT'S THE NORTH ELEVATION.
THIS IS THE EAST ELEVATION. ARE THERE THREE M S TO THE SIGN OR IS THIS JUST MAY BE AN INACCURACY, A SLIGHT INACCURACY WITH THE DESIGN ILLUSTRATION? IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS ANOTHER SIDE FACING EAST AND THEN IT APPEARED THERE IS ANOTHER SIGN FACING WEST. THIS IS WHAT FACES DIRECTLY INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
ANOTHER THING, TOO, IS ALL OF THOSE VERY NICE APARTMENTS THAT THEY'RE BUILDING DIRECTLY WEST OF THIS, THOSE UPPER LEVELS WILL FACE RIGHT INTO THE LETTER M, WHICH WILL OBSTRUCT THEIR VIEW OF MIDTOWN, OBSTRUCT THEIR VIEW OF MIDTOWN, SHOULD THAT BE AN ATTRACTIVE THING. I THINK IT WOULD BE, FOR SOMEONE TO LIVE ON THE UPPER FLOORS OF THAT NEW APARTMENT BUILDING. THANK YOU.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME. >> ALL RIGHT, PETITIONER. WOULD
YOU LIKE TO RESPOND? >> THANK YOU.
>> YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO RESPOND.
>> I'M DAN MORIARTY FROM FIRST OF ALL, THERE'S ONLY ONE SIGN. IT'S NOT LIT SO IT'S IDENTICAL TO THE SIGNS THAT ARE ON MERCHANTS NOW. SO THE REASON IT SHOWS ON BOTH ELEVATIONS IS IT'S 45 DEGREES TO THE CORNER.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS SHOT, THIS IS FROM THIRD AVENUE, OR FOURTH AVENUE. AS YOU LOOK SOUTH AND SEE THERE'S NO KIND OF VISIBLE SIGNAGE FOR MERCHANTS, BASICALLY RIGHT HERE.
SO I GUESS JUST BASED ON FACT THAT IT'S NOT LIT AND IF YOU WALK OUT THERE , YOU LOOK AT THE EXISTING CONDITIONS, I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE YOU CAN SEE THAT FROM ANYWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BASED ON THE ANGLES. YOU CAN SEE THERE THAT ONCE I START TO MOVE TO MY RIGHT, GET INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE DEPTH OF THE BUILDING IS GOING TO PREVENT YOU FROM SEEING THIS WAY AS MUCH PLUS THIS CORNER IS SET BACK.
THE FRONT COMES FORWARD SO NOT ONLY DO I HAVE THIS PART OF THE BUILDING RIGHT THERE, SITS ABOVE 35 FEET FORWARD OF WHERE THAT SIGN IS. SO JUST IN THE ANGLES, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT MUCH OF A CONCERN TO ANY OF THE VIEWS OUTSIDE OF RIGHT ON THIRD AVENUE. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF THAT AND SOMEONE ASKED ABOUT THE SIZE. IT IS 7 BY 20 SO IT'S SEVEN FOOT TALL AND IT'S 20 FEET WIDE, I'M SORRY, MOVED AWAY FROM THE MICROPHONE, SEVEN BY 20, 20 FEET WIDE AT THE BASE OF THE SIGN AND SEVEN FEET TALL SO AGAIN IT'S EXACTLY LIKE THE EXISTING SIGN, IF SOMEONE WONDERS RELATIVE SCALE, AND I THINK THAT ANSWER THE QUESTIONS TO THE COMMITTEE, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS TO ME WHILE I'M HERE?
>> THANK YOU. >> WE'LL MOVE TO THE DEPARTMENT
REPORT, PLEASE. THANK YOU. >> SO THE HQ ONE BUILDING DID HAVE A VARIANCE FOR SIGNS THAT WAS APPROVED SO THEY CURRENTLY HAVE THREE ROOF SIGNS ON THEIR BUILDING. THAT'S PRETTY RARE IN CARMEL TO HAVE THREE ROOF SIGNS, PROHIBITED SIGN TYPE NEVERTHELESS, THAT WAS APPROVED. THE HQ2 BUILDING, THEY DID COME THROUGH IN 2024, REQUESTING TWO ROOF SIGNS AND THOSE WERE DENIED
[00:35:05]
THERE. THE PROPOSED ROOF SIGN Y- WILL BE 20 FEET WIDE BY SEVEN FEET TALL AND IT WILL BE SITUATED KIND OF IN THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT OF THE ROOF, SO KIND OF AT AN ANGLE FACING NORTHEAST. THERE WILL ALSO BE A CANOPY SIGN ON THE BUILDING, RIGHT ABOVE THE FIRST FLOOR ENTRY DOORS. SO PLANNING STAFF HAS REVIEWED THIS PETITION IN GREAT DETAIL. PLANNING STAFF DOES THINK THAT OTHER PERMITTED SIGN TYPES CAN BE UTILIZED , SUCH AS THE BLADE SIGN OR THE PROJECTING SIGN TYPES, AND THOSE HAVE ALSO BEEN USED SUCCESSFULLY IN MIDTOWN, SUCH AS THE RAILYARD. THEY HAVE BLADE SIGNS SO PLANNING STAFF ALSO THINKS THAT THIS IS A SELF-CREATED HARDSHIP, THAT THERE REALLY IS NO PRACTICAL DIFFICULTY FOR REQUESTING A VARIANCE FROM A PROHIBITED SIGN TYPE. HOWEVER, PLANNING STAFF COULD POSSIBLY BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS SIGN TYPE VARIANCE IF IT MEANT NO NET GAIN IN ROOF SIGNS. SO THAT WOULD MEAN TAKING ONE OF THE EXISTING THREE ROOF SIGNS AND TRANSFERRING IT OVER TO THE HQ2 BUILDING. SO PLANNIN STAFF DOES RECOMMEND FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION OF THE VARIANCE REQUEST, ONLY UNDER THE FOLLOWING CONDITION, THAT THERE'S NO NET INCREASE IN ROOF SIGNS, MEANING THEY TAKE ONE OF THE THREE EXISTING AND MOVE ONE OVER TO THE HQ2 BUILDING AND ALSO THE ADOPTION OF THEFINDINGS OF FACT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. GO AHEAD, YES.
>> I WAS HERE IN '24, WAS SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, AND PART OF MY ARGUMENT, EXCUSE ME, PART OF MY ARGUMENT SO HE SAID, WELL WE DON'T ALLOW ROOF SIGNS. WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF THINGS IN MIDTOWN AND CITY CENTER THAT WE DON'T ALLOW, BECAUSE WE WANT THEM TO BE UNIQUE, AND MERCHANTS BANK MOVED THEIR HEADQUARTERS HERE.
BROUGHT MANY JOBS. HAVE BEEN AN AMAZING PARTNER WITH OUR COMMUNITY. THE SUPPORT THEY'VE SHOWN FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND MY ISSUE WITH MOVING THE SIGN IS THAT IT'S ALMOST LIKE THE CITY SAYING, WELL WE TURNED IT DOWN, WE'LL GIVE IT TO YOU IF YOU MOVE ONE. I -- I'M NOT SAYING WHERE I AM ON THE ARGUMENT OF WHAT WOULD BE LIKE, BUT IT WOULD BE PROBLEMATIC. THAT'S NOT A SMALL THING. IT WOULD BE MUCH EASIER TO INSTALL A NEW ONE ON THE NEW BUILDING. AND WHAT DO WE REALLY GAIN BY TAKING ONE OFF THE OLD BUILDING? I DON'T SEE THE LOGIC IN THAT AND AS FAR AS THIS BEING SEEN IN SIGHTLINES, I DON'T THINK PEOPLE ARE THINKING -- YOU'RE PICKING UP IT FROM A PICTURE THAT YOU'RE SEEING.
YOU'RE NOT THINKING OF IT FROM STANDING YOUR BACKYARD. I'M NOT ASKING FOR A COMMENT, CHARLIE. YOU'RE NOT THINKING OF STANDING IN YOUR BACKYARD. THE BUILDING IS GOING TO HIDE IT FROM YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE THE SIGN AND WE ALWAYS HAVE TO LOOK AT SIGHTLINES. EVERYBODY SAID IT'S GOING TO BE SO BIG. IS GOING TO BE BIG FROM THEIR BACKYARD? IT'S NOT. AND IF WE ARE EVER GOING TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, MIDTOWN IS WHERE WE DO IT. I ARGUED THAT LAST TIME. I THINK IT WOULD BE A BIG MISTAKE TO NOT APPROVE THIS, THIS TIME. I THINK THIS WAS A BIG MISTAKE LAST TIME AND I WILL NOT SUPPORT MOVING ONE. IF THE BOARD INSISTS ON THAT I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR IT BUT I TELL THE BOARD I THINK IT WOULD MAKE THE PROJECT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT THAN JUST PUT IN A CRANE ONCE, PUT IT ON THE ROOF AND BEING DONE. IT WOULD BE DISRUPTIVE FOR DAYS TO DO IT THE OTHER WAY PLUS IT WOULD CHANGE. THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO A PROJECT ON THE ROOF ONCE YOU REMOVE THAT. YOU NEVER WANT TO REMOVE SOMETHING THAT HAS PENETRATED A ROOF AFTER DONE IT THE FIRST TIME. IT'S NOT A GOOD
IDEA. THINK YOU. >> SO I HAVE A QUESTION. FIRST, THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO MERCHANTS FOR BRINGING YOUR HEADQUARTERS HERE TO CARMEL. THAT IS APPRECIATED. AS I'M LOOKING AT THIS I'M LOOKING AT JUST THIS BUILDING, WHAT HAS BEEN DONE ON HQ I GUESS ONE. THAT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED SO I'M JUST LOOKING AT THIS GOLDEN. CAN YOU JUST COME UP HERE, IS THERE ANY OTHER SIGNAGE THAT THE IMPLANT ON THE BUILDING OTHER THAN THE M YOU MAKE IS THERE ANYTHING ABOUT THE DOOR? IS THERE ANY OTHER SIGNAGE THAT IS GOING ON THIS BUILDING IS THIS IT, IT'S JUST
THE ONE M? >> THIS IS A GREAT PICTURE BUT YES, OVER THE ENTRANCE HERE IS JUST THE WORDS MERCHANTS CAPITAL, AT THE CANOPY, AND THEN THERE IS NO OTHER SIGNAGE BEYOND OTHER THAN PARKING GARAGE. THERE'S A PARKING GARAGE
[00:40:02]
ENTRANCE, SPRINKLE AROUND, SERVICE SIGNS LIKE THAT.THERE'S A FEW OF THOSE BUT THAT'S THE ONLY OTHER SIGN.
THAT'S PART OF THE REASON YOU SEE THIS PICTURE BECOMES IMPORTANT TO US, IF YOU CAN SEE, YOU CAN'T SEE THE CANOPY FROM HERE. THERE IS NO VISIBLE SIGN IS COMING FROM THE NORTH AT ALL SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE ASKING HERE. THE CHALLENGE OF A BLADE SIGN, THAT'S NOT THE BEST PICTURES, THIS IS PROBABLY THE BEST PICTURE. AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S THE CANOPY. IF YOU PUT A BLADE SIGN HERE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE IT FROM THE SOUTH AT ALL AND HE WILL SEE IT FROM THE NORTH BUT AGAIN, THE ROOF SIGN AND ONE SIGNED KIND OF SOLVES ALL THOSE PROBLEMS, AND THAT'S WHY WE THINK IT'S THE BEST SOLUTION IN THIS CASE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT EXPLANATION. I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> I ALSO ECHO WHAT HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT MERCHANTS INVOLVEMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY AND APPRECIATIVE OF THE FACT THAT THEY BROUGHT THEIR HEADQUARTERS INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. HAVING SAID THAT, IN LOOKING AT SOME OF THESE PHOTOGRAPHS THAT ARE IN THE PACKET, I DO NOTICE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF BRANDING. AT LEAST IT'S APPARENT TO ME ON THIS BUILDING AND I'LL CITE EACH OF THESE LITTLE STONE MEDALLIONS AS YOUR MERCHANT LOGO ON IT, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF THEM. THE OTHER THING I NOTICED, THERE'S A LARGE GREEN M ON THE FOURTH FLOOR FACING NORTH ON THE BRICK WALL THAT SITS INSIDE THAT STOREFRONT AREA. AND IN THIS PICTURE THAT WAS IN THE PACKET, IT'S VERY VISIBLE BECAUSE THE SUN IS SHINING AND IT THAT WAY AND I DID NOTICE ON THE PHOTOGRAPHS THAT YOU HAD, THAT YOU WORK PRESENTING, LESS NOTICEABLE, BUT AGAIN, I'M LOOKING AT THAT SIGN, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ALMOST AS LARGE AS WHAT'S BEING DEPOSED FOR THE ROOF. SO NO, THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE VISIBLE. OBVIOUSLY IT'S NOT GOING TO BE VISIBLE ALL THE TIME, DEPENDING ON WHETHER IT'S LATE OR NOT, WHETHER THE SUN IS SHINING IN THOSE WINDOWS WERE NOT, BUT THAT'S ONE SIGN THAT I, AGAIN, FIND AS I'M LOOKING AT THE PROJECT, I THINK THE ARGUMENT OF BEING ABLE TO SEE THIS FROM THE SOUTH IS THAT IS TRUE WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE BACK OF IT AS AN OBLIQUE ANGLE SO I DON'T KNOW HOW APPARENT THAT IS. ANYWAY, AND I AGREE WITH MR. RYDER. TRYING TO RELOCATE A SIGN IS GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT. NOW YOU'VE GOT REPAIR WORK TO DO ON THE ROOF OF THE EXISTING BUILDING THAT YOU'RE TAKING THE SIGN OFF AND I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S EVER ALWAYS A GOOD WAY TO PATCH A AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO LEAK IN THE FUTURE. AND THEN RELOCATING IT TO THIS BUILDING, I COULD ALMOST BE CERTAIN THAT THAT FRAMING FOR THAT SIGN IS NOT GOING TO LINE UP WITH THE STRUCTURE UNDERNEATH IT. SO THAT ALMOST PRESENTS THE FACT THAT RELOCATING AN EXISTING SIGN WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT, PROBABLY MORE EXPENSIVE THAN TRYING A NEW SIGN. SO AGAIN, I CONCUR WITH YOU. SO I'M TRYING TO DECIDE WHETHER THIS IS SOMETHING I CAN GET BEHIND OR NOT AND I'M HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME TRYING TO COME TO THAT CONCLUSION, TO BE QUITE HONEST, SO I'VE GOT TO GIVE A LITTLE
MORE THOUGHT TO THAT. >> I MUST CONFESS THAT I CAME TO THIS MEETING WITH MY RIGHT BRAIN SAYING I'M IN FAVOR, LEFT BRAIN SAYING I'M NOT IN FAVOR, AND I'M LISTENING TO THE TESTIMONY HERE, AND I'M WONDERING WHAT IS SO DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS VARIANCE THAT IS SO DIFFERENT THAN THE HUNDREDS OF VARIANCES THAT WE ISSUE EVERY YEAR. SEEMS TO ME THE BOTTOM LINE WAS RESOLVED BY THE STAFF AND PETITIONER, WOULD YOU PLEASE ADDRESS WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH DOING THAT? WHY IS THAT NOT A VIABLE OPTION?
>> PRIMARILY COST. I ASKED THE CONTRACTOR FOR AN ESTIMATE ON
[00:45:02]
TAKING DOWN AND REPLICATING A SIGN, IT WAS IN THE $40,000-$50,000 RANGE. CLOSE DOWN THIRD AVENUE, YOU HAVE TO DO IT FROM THE CORNER TO REACH IT, SET IT, REMOVE THE CRANE,SET THE CRANE BACK UP. >> WHAT THAT WOULD BE IN LIEU OF
CONSTRUCTING A NEW ONE. >> WHICH IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN -- IT'S A MATTER OF I THINK FINANCIAL IS A HARDSHIP, I THINK FINANCIAL, TAKE THAT SIGN DOWN AS STATED WELL BY WENDY IS NOT ONLY AN INCONVENIENCE AND THE PUNITIVE DAMAGES TO MERCHANTS BUT ALSO THE PUBLIC AND RAILYARD AND MONON AND EVERYONE WHO HAS TO DEAL WITH THE MOVEMENT OF THAT SIGN . CAN I BE DONE? SURE, ANYTHING CAN BE DONE. THE QUESTION I THINK IS ONE OF VALUE AND JUST THE ECONOMICS AS I THINK SOMEONE HAS ALREADY SAID ON THE COMMITTEE. CLEARLY A NEW SIGN WITH ONE CRANE THAT CAN BE SET IN THE CONSTRUCTION AREA AND NOT ON THE STREET AS WE ARE ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF THE BUILDING. WE HAVE A CONSTRUCTION AREA. WE DON'T EVEN HAVE TO CLOSE THE STREET TO SET A NEW SIGN SO I THINK ALL THOSE FACTORS COMBINED TO DISSUADE US
FROM MOVING AN EXISTING SIGN. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. MY ULTIMATE DECISION REALLY IS BASED ON DOES THIS VARIANCE IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN CARMEL? NO. DOESN'T DISTRACT FROM THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN CARMEL? NO. SO I'M GOING TO VOTE IN FAVOR.
THANK YOU. >> I HAD SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU, CHRISTINE, AS OUR REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION. IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT YOU MAY ANSWER IT WITHOUT ME ASKING.
>> I WAS GOING TO TALK WITH MOVING IT ASIDE. BECAUSE I SAID WHAT IS CURRENTLY ON HEADQUARTERS ONE IS THAT WOULD BE CALLED FIRST BUILDING, THE FIRST ONE, THAT'S BEEN APPROVED, ALTHOUGH SIGNS HAVE BEEN APPROVED, THEY'RE THERE. I DON'T, TO ME IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT TAKING A SIGN OF THE BUILDING WHERE IT'S BEEN APPROVED, TO MOVE IT, BECAUSE IN ESSENCE WE ARE SAYING WE ARE OKAY WITH HAVING A SIGN ON THIS BUILDING. YOU KNOW, SO WHY GO THROUGH THE EXPENSE, THE RISK, ALL THE TROUBLE OF MOVING A SIGN IF THE PREMISE IS, IT'S OKAY TO HAVE A SIGN ON THIS BUILDING.
THAT'S WHY I SAID I'M LOOKING AT THIS BUILDING, WHAT WILL HE DO FOR THIS ONE BUILDING? AND SO LOOKING AT THE DESCRIPTION OF THE SIGHTLINES AND HOW IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO SEE THEM, AND I WAS GLAD TO HEAR YOU SAID IT WAS SEVEN FEET TALL, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND, NOT 20 FEET TALL AND SEVEN FEET, IT'S SEVEN FEET SO FROM THE GROUND THAT'S NOT PARTICULARLY TALL. SO THAT WAS MY ONLY COMMENT ABOUT THE DISCUSSION OF MOVING THE SIGN WAS WHEN I WAS THINKING THROUGH THIS ANALYSIS THAT I WAS HAVING THAT DISCONNECT THERE. I WAS NOT SEEING THE PURPOSE FOR MOVING THE SIGN OFF SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED. SO ANYWAY, I WILL ALSO BE VOTING IN FAVOR OF THIS SIGN.
>> WELL MY QUESTION REALLY, FROM A PLANNING COMMISSION AND REALLY I THINK IT'S BEEN DISCUSSED FOR -- IN THE LAND-USE COMMITTEE FOR CITY COUNCIL, OR WILL BE, ABOUT ROOFTOP SIGNAGE , BECAUSE THE LAST TIME THIS CAME BEFORE US IT WAS DENIED, I THINK MOSTLY BECAUSE THERE IS A RESTRICTION AGAINST ROOFTOP SIGNS IN THE MIDTOWN AREA. THE OTHER THING IS THERE HAS BEEN SOME DISCUSSION THAT THE MIDTOWN AREA WAS INTENDED TO BE MORE INDUSTRIAL FEEL AND SO I THINK THAT COULD BE RECONSIDERED. NOW WE CAN'T BASE OUR DECISION TODAY ON SOMETHING THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED BUT IT DEFINITELY, FOR ME, I THINK ABOUT THE LOOK AND THE FEEL THAT WE WANT, AND THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CENTRAL CORE, AND I DON'T THINK THAT THIS GOES AGAINST IT. I ALSO -- THE HQ2 STANDS OUT ALONG FOURTH AND THIRD AVENUE RIGHT NOW BUT IT WON'T EVENTUALLY BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THERE WILL BE A LOT MORE MIXED-USE DEVELOPED SOUTH OF THAT BUILDING AND IT WILL NOT BE STANDING OUT ON ITS OWN, SO ANTICIPATING THAT, I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH THIS AND I'LL VOTE IN FAVOR.
>> MADAM PRESIDENT? >> YES SIR?
>> MAKE MOTION TO APPROVE A NEW SIGN, NOT INCLUDING MOVING THE
>> WITH THE ADOPTION AND FINDING A FAX.
>> I SECOND. >> WE HAVE A FIRST AND SECOND GO
[00:50:01]
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. YOU'RE APPROVED . THANK YOU. AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR MEETING FOR THIS EVENING. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.