OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Metropolitan Development Commission Meeting May 21, 2025

Metropolitan Development Commission — Wednesday, May 21, 2025
BodyIndianapolis, Indiana
SessionMetropolitan Development Commission
DateWednesday, May 21, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:46

Can Doug Haas come to the podium, please?

0:49

Doug?

0:54

Ladies and gentlemen, let me call to order the May 21st, 2025 meeting of the Metropolitan Development Commission, which will now come to order.

1:05

We have a special guest today from Kimball Electrics, the House Counsel, uh Doug Haas, who has agreed to lead us with the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:15

Would you all please rise?

1:21

Pledge allegiance to the flag, the United States of America.

1:26

And to the Republic for which it stands.

1:29

One nation, under God, indivisible, liberty, and justice for all.

1:38

Thank you, Doug.

1:40

Thank you for your presentation in the pre-meeting.

1:43

Let me recognize, and although he was here last week, let me recognize a new member of the commission, Greg West.

1:51

Greg, welcome.

1:52

Greg is an appointee from the city council.

1:55

We're glad to have you board.

1:57

Thank you very much.

1:58

Glad to be here.

1:59

All right, moving forward.

2:01

You've all had an opportunity to review the minutes of May 7th, 2025.

2:07

Commissioner Schumacher and myself were absent, so we will be recusing ourselves from the vote.

2:14

Are there any additions or deletions to those minutes?

2:19

Hearing none.

2:20

Can I get a motion to approve?

2:24

Thank you.

2:24

Can I get a second?

2:25

Second.

2:26

Let me call the roll.

2:27

Garver.

2:28

Garver, yes.

2:29

Hergett.

2:31

Morarity.

2:32

Moreity, yes.

2:33

Murphy.

2:33

Murphy, yes.

2:34

Robinson.

2:35

Robinson, yes.

2:36

West.

2:36

West, yes.

2:38

They pass.

2:41

62 0 with two recusals of Schumacher and Dylan.

2:47

Moving forward.

2:50

Let's move into special requests, continuances or withdrawals.

2:55

Kathleen, or please come forward.

2:57

That's fine.

2:59

Please introduce yourself.

3:00

Good afternoon, Stephanie Trushan with Creek DeValt, Offices at 1 Indiana Square, Suite 2800, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46204.

3:11

I am here to request a continuance of petition 2025 ZON019, which is item six on the agenda.

3:22

We are requesting a continuance to the June 18th hearing.

3:33

So we we would just like to take a brief pause on this petition.

3:38

This request was communicated to Kathleen, I think May 15th.

3:43

Thank you.

3:44

Any questions from members of the commission?

3:47

Is there anyone else here today who would like to comment about this request for a continuance?

3:53

Kathleen, you're good to go on this.

3:55

Yes, thank you.

3:56

President Dillon's staff has no further comments and supports the continuance.

4:00

We have a request for 2020, excuse me, 2025 Z O N O one nine, a continued request to move this to June 18th.

4:13

Is that correct?

4:14

That is correct.

4:16

Thank you.

4:16

Can I get a motion to approve Commissioner Schumacher?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning and Land Use█████████████████████████████████████████████81%
Procedural████████15%
Dust Control█2%
Public Safety█1%
Code Enforcement█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Metropolitan Development Commission Meeting May 21, 2025

The Metropolitan Development Commission met on May 21, 2025, to approve routine items, hear a public hearing on a zoning and variance appeal, and discuss several development projects. Key actions included approval of consent items, a continuance request, and a contested rezoning and variance petition for a contractor's yard on East Raymond Street.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes from May 7, 2025, approved 6–0 (two recusals: Commissioner Schumacher and President Dillon).
  • Continuance of petition 2025 ZON 019 to June 18, 2025, approved 8–0.
  • Continuance of petition 2025 CAP 804 to June 4, 2025, approved 8–0.
  • Three resolutions approved 8–0:
    • 2025 A016: Preliminary economic revitalization area resolution for Kimball Electronics, Indianapolis, Inc. (1220 South Post Road, Council District 20, Warren Township), recommending a 6-year personal property tax abatement.
    • 2025 E012: Resolution authorizing removal of certain parcels from the Fall Creek Citizens Redevelopment Area and creating the Oxford Row Allocation Area (Council District 12, Center Township).
    • 2025 P006: Resolution appointing Commissioner Brandon Hergett to the Marion County Plat Committee for May 21, 2025 through December 31, 2025.
  • Eleven petitions of no appeal recommended for approval by the hearing examiner approved together 8–0 (agenda items 2–10, 12, 14). Items included: 2024 ZON 102 amended, 2025 ZON 012, 2025 ZON 027, 2025 ZON 030, 2025 ZON 031, 2025 ZON 033, 2025 CZN 813, 2025 CZN 815, 2025 CAP 815A, 2025 CAP 815B, 2025 ZON 039 (Drake Apartments), 2025 REG 019.

Discussion Items

  • Butler University Gateway Project Update (agenda item 13): Attorney Brian Tuey provided an overview of Butler University's ongoing development. The university's Gateway Project includes a new residence hall on Sunset Avenue, conversion of Jordan Hall into a boutique hotel, and development on the former Christian Theological Seminary campus (approximately 32 acres at the southwest end of campus). The current rezoning (2025 CZN 815, CAP 815A, 815B) will allow construction of a police department building on the seminary campus, relocation of the police department from the southeast end of campus, and parking for two new colleges (Founders College and College of Education). The project is expected to reduce on-street parking near campus. Both the Butler Tarkington Neighborhood Association and the Midtown Community Association voted unanimously in support. Notices were sent to 87 adjacent property owners with no negative feedback received. The item was approved under the consent calendar.
  • Drake Apartments Update (agenda item 14): Piers Kirby, Administrator for Real Estate and Brownfield Redevelopment with the Department of Metropolitan Development, presented the rezoning of the historic Drake Apartments at 3060 North Meridian Street from commercial special (CS) to D9 residential to allow rehabilitation and reuse. President Dillon expressed concern about the building's physical condition after a personal walk-through, noting it "did not look good." Staff acknowledged stabilization work has been done on the facade and structural evaluations have been completed, but agreed that expeditious productive reuse is needed. The item was approved under the consent calendar.

Public Hearing: 2025 CZN 809 & 2025 CVR 809 amended

  • Petitioner: David Rutherford (attorney) representing Alexander Construction & Landscape, with owner Justin Alexander. Requested rezoning of 4.37 acres at 8800 East Raymond Street (Warren Township, Council District 20) from C5 to I2 (Industrial) for a commercial building contractor business (operational headquarters), and variances of development standards to allow outdoor storage and operations comprising 225% of enclosed building gross floor area (max 25% permitted), a gravel parking lot/storage area (not permitted), reduced front (52 ft vs 100 ft required) and rear (10 ft vs 30 ft required) transitional yards, outdoor loading/unloading within 30 ft of a protected district (500 ft required), and a 6-ft aluminum fence in the front yard (3.5 ft max permitted). A variance for a 30-ft east side yard (50 ft required) was withdrawn during the hearing and amended to 50 ft compliance.
  • Public Comments: No remonstrators appeared at the hearing. Letters of support from the Warren Township Development Association and nearby property owners were submitted. The Warren Township Development Association asked for and received additional commitments including evergreen tree planting along the east side. The adjacent property owner to the east declined to provide a written statement but told petitioner she would not remonstrate.
  • Staff Position: The Department of Metropolitan Development staff recommended denial. Staff argued that the multiple variances indicate the site is not large enough for the I-2 district proposal; the rezoning is inconsistent with the comprehensive plan recommendation of suburban neighborhood development; and the use would increase noise and light pollution despite required ordinance compliance. Staff also expressed concern that dust from gravel or asphalt millings cannot be adequately controlled, and that the amount of outdoor storage area (even if limited by commitment) could lead to unenforceable conditions.
  • Key Amendments During Hearing: The petitioner made several oral commitments on the record:
    • Eliminated the east side yard variance; will comply with 50-ft requirement.
    • Agreed to hard surface pavement (instead of gravel or asphalt regrind) for all outdoor areas.
    • Agreed to no outdoor storage; all equipment and materials (including two low-boy trailers) will be stored inside buildings. The site plan will be revised to deepen a building on the north side to accommodate the trailers.
    • Hours of operation limited to 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
    • All commitments included in the existing written commitments.

Key Outcomes

  • Vote on Rezoning (2025 CZN 809): Approved 7–1 (8 ballots cast, 7 yes, 1 no).
  • Vote on Variances (2025 CVR 809 as twice amended): Approved 7–1 (8 ballots cast, 7 yes, 1 no).
  • The approved petition includes the oral commitments made at the hearing (no outdoor storage, hard surface pavement, 7 AM–7 PM weekday hours, revised site plan for deeper building). President Dillon warned the petitioner that enforcement would follow if commitments are not met.

Meeting Transcript

Can Doug Haas come to the podium, please? Doug? Ladies and gentlemen, let me call to order the May 21st, 2025 meeting of the Metropolitan Development Commission, which will now come to order. We have a special guest today from Kimball Electrics, the House Counsel, uh Doug Haas, who has agreed to lead us with the Pledge of Allegiance. Would you all please rise? Pledge allegiance to the flag, the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible, liberty, and justice for all. Thank you, Doug. Thank you for your presentation in the pre-meeting. Let me recognize, and although he was here last week, let me recognize a new member of the commission, Greg West. Greg, welcome. Greg is an appointee from the city council. We're glad to have you board. Thank you very much. Glad to be here. All right, moving forward. You've all had an opportunity to review the minutes of May 7th, 2025. Commissioner Schumacher and myself were absent, so we will be recusing ourselves from the vote. Are there any additions or deletions to those minutes? Hearing none. Can I get a motion to approve? Thank you. Can I get a second? Second. Let me call the roll. Garver. Garver, yes. Hergett. Morarity. Moreity, yes. Murphy. Murphy, yes. Robinson. Robinson, yes. West. West, yes. They pass. 62 0 with two recusals of Schumacher and Dylan. Moving forward. Let's move into special requests, continuances or withdrawals. Kathleen, or please come forward. That's fine. Please introduce yourself. Good afternoon, Stephanie Trushan with Creek DeValt, Offices at 1 Indiana Square, Suite 2800, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46204. I am here to request a continuance of petition 2025 ZON019, which is item six on the agenda. We are requesting a continuance to the June 18th hearing. So we we would just like to take a brief pause on this petition. This request was communicated to Kathleen, I think May 15th. Thank you.

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