Metropolitan Development Commission Public Meeting Summary - April 20, 2022

The Metropolitan Development Commission (MDC) held its regular public meeting on April 20, 2022, at approximately 6:00 PM. The meeting covered administrative approvals, tax abatement resolutions, continuances, and two contested zoning petitions. Key votes included the approval of a final economic revitalization area (8-1), denial of a rezoning for a mixed-use building on East 46th Street (8-1), and approval of a self-storage facility on East 42nd Street (7-1).

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval: The minutes from the April 6, 2022 meeting were approved unanimously.
• Bid Opening: Bids were opened for properties on the Central State Campus (3000 West Washington Street and 50 North Tibbs Avenue). Staff will evaluate and bring recommendations.
• Resolution 2022 R019: Authorized conveyance of 11 properties to Renew Indianapolis for neighborhood redevelopment. Approved 9-0.
• Resolution 2022 A014: Authorized a preliminary economic revitalization area for Aerol Container LLC (6550 East 30th Street) with a 7-year personal property tax abatement. Approved 9-0.
• Resolution 2022 A015: Approved a final economic revitalization area for AOZI Brookville Building 1 LLC (5505 and 5705 Brookville Road) for a 1.2 million square foot speculative industrial building with up to 7-year real property tax abatement. Approved 8-1 (Commissioner Dillon dissented).

Public Comments & Testimony

2021 ZON 116 (2201 East 46th Street)

• Keith Monfrida (homeowner at 4538 Caroline Avenue) opposed the rezoning, citing insufficient parking, noise from outdoor music, and lack of benefit to the neighborhood.
• Pastor George Williams (4514 Hillside, directly across from the property) opposed, complaining of excessive noise and parking overflow onto Hillside Avenue, which blocked access to his church property. He acknowledged recent improvements in noise.
• Ivan Holder (organizer, Bel Air Neighborhood Association) expressed distrust based on prior misuse of approved uses (outdoor concerts beyond permitted microbrewery deck). He initially agreed to a massage therapy use but neighborhood opposition led him to oppose the broader rezoning. He requested documentation to enforce existing restrictions.

2022 ZON 006 (5815 East 42nd Street)

• No remonstrators appeared at this hearing. Support letters were submitted from City Councillor Keith Graves, State Senator John Broden, and the Devinwood Communities Association, along with a petition signed by many neighbors.

Discussion Items

2021 ZON 116 – Rezoning to Add Hair/Body Care Salon & Massage Therapy

• Petitioner (Paul Carroll, Refinery 46 LLC) sought to rezone from CS to CS to add hair and body care salon/service (including a licensed massage therapist) to existing uses (offices, microbrewery with live music, training center). He argued the new use is less intense and would not expand the building footprint. He acknowledged prior unfulfilled commitments (landscaping, site plan) but stated progress was being made.
• Staff (represented by hearing examiner) recommended denial, citing overdevelopment, disregard of 2016 commitments (landscaping not installed, dumpster unenclosed, missing site plan approval), and the site’s negative impact on the residential neighborhood. Staff noted the microbrewery had expanded into outdoor entertainment beyond permitted uses.
• Remonstrators reiterated parking and noise complaints. The neighborhood association expressed lack of trust.
• Vote: Motion to approve failed 1-8 (only Commissioner Westrick voted yes). The denial included a strong message about code enforcement follow-up.

2022 ZON 006 – Rezoning for Self-Storage Facility

• Petitioner (Pat Rooney, Path to Prosperity LLC) sought to rezone a former IPS school (abandoned ~30 years) to C7 to convert the existing building into indoor self-storage. The original plan included outdoor storage and additional buildings, removed in revised plans. Petitioner committed to limiting use to indoor storage, dedicating right-of-way, and working with the community on the surplus land (possible park).
• Staff (Keith) opposed, citing the C7 district is inappropriate adjacent to single-family homes, the comprehensive plan designates suburban neighborhood, and that other reuses (charter school, church, multifamily) are possible. Staff noted the revised plans improved but still introduced heavy commercial zoning to a residential area.
• Commission Discussion: Commissioner Hackett acknowledged the dilemma but noted the derelict building is a public nuisance. The petitioner agreed to an amended commitment confining use to indoor storage within the existing building.
• Vote: Approved 7-1 (Commissioner Blackburn dissented).

Key Outcomes

• Approved (9-0): Minutes, Resolution 2022 R019, Resolution 2022 A014.
• Approved (8-1): Resolution 2022 A015 (Brookville tax abatement).
• Denied (8-1): 2021 ZON 116 (East 46th Street rezoning). The commission directed code enforcement to investigate parking and noise violations.
• Approved (7-1): 2022 ZON 006 (East 42nd Street self-storage), with amended commitment #4 limiting use to indoor storage within the existing building and no expansion.
• Continuances Granted: 2021 ZON 125 (to May 18), 2022 ZON 004 and 2022 ZON 007 (to May 4), 2021 ZON 149 (to May 18), and 2021 CZN 862A/B/CPL/CVR 862 (to May 4). The latter was continued over objections from a remonstrator; the commission warned no further continuances.
• No-Appeal Docket: Eight petitions recommended for approval were passed unanimously (9-0).