By Adam Aasen
After a failed last-minute attempt to buy the property, angry neighbors lost the battle to preserve land that will become the Monon Lake housing development. The Carmel City Council approved the controversial project 6-1 on Monday.
City Councilor Luci Snyder praised neighbors for trying diligently to save the land, but called it a “two minutes to midnight” proposal that could have serious legal ramifications.
Snyder said waiting too long could prevent the council from meeting its 90-day window, which means the decision reverts back to that of the Carmel Plan Commission. Councilors approved the project – located north of I-465 just west of the Monon Trail – unanimously at the committee level, but the plan commission was unanimous in its negative recommendation.
City Councilor Ron Carter was the lone vote against the project because he said he trusts the opinion of the plan commission.
The M/I Homes development had 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 seven-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.
