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Record of Proceedings

Metropolitan Development Commission Public Meeting - March 19, 2025

Metropolitan Development Commission — Wednesday, March 19, 2025
BodyIndianapolis, Indiana
SessionMetropolitan Development Commission
DateWednesday, March 19, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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0:25

Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon.

0:27

Welcome to the Metropolitan Development Commission public meeting of March 19, 2025.

0:33

Please rise and join me with the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:45

And to the Republic for which it stands.

0:59

Thank you.

0:59

Moving forward.

1:00

First on our agenda today is the adoptions of the minutes of March 5th.

1:05

Members of the Commission received these last Thursday.

1:08

Are there any additions or deletions to the minutes?

1:13

Hearing none.

1:14

Commissioner Garver, can I get a motion to approve?

1:17

So moved.

1:18

Commissioner Hergett, can I get a second?

1:20

Second.

1:20

Let me call the roll.

1:22

Garver.

1:22

Garver, yes.

1:24

Hergitt.

1:24

Hergett, yes.

1:25

Murphy.

1:26

Murphy, yes.

1:27

Robinson.

1:28

Robinson, yes.

1:28

Schumacher.

1:29

Recusal.

1:32

Dillon, yes.

1:33

They pass 5 to 0 to 1 recusal.

1:37

Bruce was not here for the meeting.

1:40

Moving forward, I want to go into continuances, withdrawals, or special request.

1:47

Kathleen, do you have any?

1:51

No, but I understand that some remonstrators are here to request a continuance on petition number 2024 ZON 144.

2:01

So if they could come forward.

2:02

Thank you.

2:04

Sir, please introduce yourself and your address.

2:07

Good afternoon, Commissioners.

2:08

My name is Garrett Lawton with McNeely Law.

2:11

And the address for our office is 581 South Range Line, Carmel, Indiana.

2:19

Yes, sir.

2:20

Yes, so um the uh my client, the McFarland Farms HOA, um, had previously remonstrated this.

2:28

They want to get to a position of uh hopefully support, but do not feel that um they've had enough time to fully work through everything with counsel for the developers.

2:38

So at this point they are requesting a continuance to the May 7th date.

2:42

Um the reason for that date, uh I know the petitioners we've been in discussions with them, they wanted the April 2nd dates.

2:49

We don't feel that two weeks is enough time.

2:51

Additionally, there's some concern that uh many of the neighbors in the subdivision are going to be on spring break for the uh April 2nd hearing.

2:59

And then recently I was just informed my client actually um a state senator for the area has taken interest in this project, and so we want additional time to work with the state senator on the concerns she might have.

3:10

Thank you.

3:10

Is there anyone else who wants to comment?

3:13

Counselor please introduce yourself.

3:17

Afternoon, Mr.

3:18

President, members of the commission for the record, Russell Brown uh offices at 320 North Meridian Street Suite 1100.

3:24

We do represent the petitioner in 2024 ZON 144.

3:28

Uh I was not made aware of the May 7th date until I walked in this room.

3:32

Um, so that comes as a little shock to me.

3:34

Uh we had previously discussed either April 2nd or April 16th.

3:38

I have authority to agree to April 16th from my client as a continuance state.

3:43

Do you have authority to agree to April 2nd?

3:45

Yes, I do have agreed.

3:46

That was our proposal.

3:47

Was there anybody else here who would like to comment on the matter?

3:52

Staff, any comments?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning and Land Use█████████████████████████████████████████████59%
Procedural███████████14%
Transportation█████6%
Economic Development████5%
Environmental Protection████5%
Land Use Regulation███4%
Public Works██3%
Property Tax Assessment██2%
Community Engagement██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Metropolitan Development Commission Public Meeting - March 19, 2025

The Metropolitan Development Commission held a public meeting on March 19, 2025, addressing routine approvals, continuances, and two contested rezoning petitions. Key actions included approval of minutes, appointment resolutions, and 16 petitions of no appeal, along with a 5-1 vote to continue one petition. The commission denied two major rezoning requests: the Broadmoor Country Club development (5-0-1 recusal) and a contractor storage site (5-1).

Consent Calendar

  • Adoption of Minutes (March 5, 2025): Approved 5-0-1 recusal (Commissioner Schumacher recused; Commissioner Bruce absent).
  • Appointments (Resolution 2025 P003): Approved 6-0 to fill various positions on the Metropolitan Development Commission, Marion County Boards of Zoning Appeals, alternate hearing examiner, hearing officers, and the Plat Committee.
  • Petitions of No Appeal (16 items): Approved as a whole 6-0, covering zoning and subdivision petitions at various locations across Indianapolis.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Continuance Request (2024 ZON 144): Garrett Lawton (McNeely Law) representing McFarland Farms HOA requested a continuance to May 7, 2025, citing insufficient time to negotiate and spring break conflicts. The petitioner’s attorney, Russell Brown, agreed to April 16 but not May 7. Staff noted it was the first continuance for cause. The commission voted 5-1 to continue to April 2, 2025 (Commissioner Murphy dissented).
  • Broadmoor Country Club Rezoning (2024 ZON 073 & 073B):
    • Petitioner (Russell Brown): Argued the development (35 homes on 13.69 acres) would support Broadmoor Country Club, provide housing diversity, and comply with the comprehensive plan’s suburban neighborhood typology. Emphasized commitments including a 50-foot buffer, tree preservation, and no through traffic.
    • Remonstrators (Lori Miser, Jason Mackey, Scott Monk, attorney Greg Zubek): Opposed the density and zoning change from DS (estate) to D4/D5 (high density), citing incompatibility with surrounding large-lot neighborhoods, environmental harm from tree removal, and traffic concerns. Stated willingness to support a DS-compatible development.
    • City Councilwoman Brienne Delaney (District 2): Opposed the proposal due to heritage tree loss and excessive density, noting consistency with comprehensive plan and staff recommendations.
    • Staff (Kathleen): Recommended denial, stating the development is incompatible with the comprehensive plan (regional special use) and surrounding low-density residential character. Noted five commitments but found them insufficient.
  • Contractor Storage Rezoning (2024 ZON 110):
    • Petitioner (Mitch Siever, with company president Mauro and operations manager Chaz Worth): Requested C7 zoning for outdoor storage of construction equipment, arguing the site (at 6670 E 38th St) is already improved with fencing and cleanup, and commitments include no outdoor material storage, paving, lighting, and seasonal flowers. Noted C7 is the least restrictive and would allow their use.
    • Staff (Kathleen and Bruce): Recommended denial, citing inconsistency with community commercial comprehensive plan, unlimited outdoor storage potential under C7, violations for fencing height, and conflict with the TOD overlay. Noted that a less intense zoning (C4 or C5) with a building could accommodate indoor storage.

Discussion Items

  • Resolution 2025 A013 (Hall Place Apartments): Public hearing on an amendment to a real property tax abatement (extension due to financing delays). Unanimous approval 6-0.
  • Resolution 2025 A014 (Monarch Distribution): Public hearing to amend tax abatement terms (adding RBD transit, changing ERA dates). Unanimous approval 6-0.
  • Resolution 2025 A015 (EHOB Inc.): Public hearing to waive filing deadline for tax abatement. Unanimous approval 6-0.
  • Continuance and Withdrawal: Petition 2025 ZON 006 (withdrawn, acknowledged). Findings of fact for 2024 CVR 834 moved to April 2, 2025.

Key Outcomes

  • Continuance Granted: 2024 ZON 144 continued to April 2, 2025, by a vote of 5-1.
  • Broadmoor Country Club Rezoning (2024 ZON 073 & 073B): Denied 5-0-1 recusal (Commissioner Schumacher recused). Both petitions rejected.
  • Contractor Storage Rezoning (2024 ZON 110): Denied 5-1 (one vote in favor).
  • All Policy Resolutions and Petitions of No Appeal: Approved unanimously (6-0).

Meeting Transcript

Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. Welcome to the Metropolitan Development Commission public meeting of March 19, 2025. Please rise and join me with the Pledge of Allegiance. And to the Republic for which it stands. Thank you. Moving forward. First on our agenda today is the adoptions of the minutes of March 5th. Members of the Commission received these last Thursday. Are there any additions or deletions to the minutes? Hearing none. Commissioner Garver, can I get a motion to approve? So moved. Commissioner Hergett, can I get a second? Second. Let me call the roll. Garver. Garver, yes. Hergitt. Hergett, yes. Murphy. Murphy, yes. Robinson. Robinson, yes. Schumacher. Recusal. Dillon, yes. They pass 5 to 0 to 1 recusal. Bruce was not here for the meeting. Moving forward, I want to go into continuances, withdrawals, or special request. Kathleen, do you have any? No, but I understand that some remonstrators are here to request a continuance on petition number 2024 ZON 144. So if they could come forward. Thank you. Sir, please introduce yourself and your address. Good afternoon, Commissioners. My name is Garrett Lawton with McNeely Law. And the address for our office is 581 South Range Line, Carmel, Indiana. Yes, sir. Yes, so um the uh my client, the McFarland Farms HOA, um, had previously remonstrated this. They want to get to a position of uh hopefully support, but do not feel that um they've had enough time to fully work through everything with counsel for the developers. So at this point they are requesting a continuance to the May 7th date. Um the reason for that date, uh I know the petitioners we've been in discussions with them, they wanted the April 2nd dates. We don't feel that two weeks is enough time. Additionally, there's some concern that uh many of the neighbors in the subdivision are going to be on spring break for the uh April 2nd hearing. And then recently I was just informed my client actually um a state senator for the area has taken interest in this project, and so we want additional time to work with the state senator on the concerns she might have. Thank you. Is there anyone else who wants to comment? Counselor please introduce yourself. Afternoon, Mr. President, members of the commission for the record, Russell Brown uh offices at 320 North Meridian Street Suite 1100.

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