By Adam Aasen
It’s widely expected the controversial Monon Lake development will be approved by the Carmel City Council tonight. But many determined residents are making a final push to prevent the project.
Joshua Kirsh, member of the Carmel Plan Commission that voted unanimously against the project, told the Current that residents will ask the council to give them 30 days to try to raise enough money to buy the land. This is in response to comments by City Councilor Luci Snyder who claimed that if people felt so strongly that the wooded area should be preserved for parks space then they could buy the land.
Councilors approved the project – located north of I-465 just west of the Monon Trail – unanimously at the committee level.
The M/I Homes development has been criticized by residents of nearby neighborhoods for many reasons, including traffic flow, congestion, pedestrian safety, drainage, aesthetics and nature preservation.
The committee approval prompted an angry letter from 7-page letter from Karen Cheek, a concerned resident who has been organizing protestors through Facebook.
“The blatant disregard by the Land Use Committee of the unanimous vote of “NO SUPPORT” by the City of Carmel Planning Commission and the protests of hundreds of concerned citizens submitted for your consideration through petitions, letters, e-mails, calls and organized demonstrations, all in support of denying this petition, was truly shocking and appalling to witness,” she wrote.
Cheek goes on to restate her case against the project, but background information can be found through the links below:
https://youarecurrent.com/carmel-city-council-not-moved-by-monon-lake-march
https://youarecurrent.com/letter-say-no-to-monon-lake-destruction
https://youarecurrent.com/monon-lake-project-makes-it-way-to-carmel-city-council
The council meeting starts at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
