The Carmel Plan Commission is considering whether to approve rezoning two parcels from residential to business in the Carmel Arts & Design District.
The land, totaling 0.33 acres, is located at 321 W. Main St., across from the Beauty Lounge and not far from the roundabout. The petitioner, Soori Ardalan, owner of Soori Gallery nearby, said she wants to tear down the existing structure and build a taller space similar to the size of the Evan Lurie Building a few blocks away.
To the east, west and south of these parcels are single-family homes, so the city’s planning department had some concerns about only rezoning these two parcels instead of the entire area. In the city’s long-term plan, spelled out by urban planner Jeff Speck in his vision for the Midtown area, this area would be retail/office space with parking lots, but that might be a ways away.
The Planning Department wrote:
“The Department would like to see the entire block rezoned at one time, however, all property owners would not consent to this right now. Over time, we would expect the rest of this block to be rezoned and redeveloped. We are concerned that rezoning this one lot is a piecemeal approach to the redevelopment of this area. Another item of concern is that this would be a straight rezoning to B-5 with no land uses being excluded. Still being located within the Old Town Overlay Zone helps; however the Dept. would like to get a better idea of what will go here, in order to be fully supportive of this rezone request.”
Ardalan told Current that she agrees that it would be better if the whole area were rezoned at once and she’s tried to contact the other landowners, but she can only control what she owns. She said she believes she would build something attractive and in character with the district. She said once her land is redeveloped, it would hopefully encourage others to rezone and redevelop their property.
Ardalan owns and rents out many pieces of property throughout the district and she’s been involved in the area long before it was as busy as it is today. She said the goal of redeveloping this land is to increase foot traffic west of the Monon Trail, which could help several surrounding businesses.
“I talked to many business owners and they want to see more people walk down to this part of Main Street,” she said.
Carmel Plan Commission members wondered whether allowing this rezone would devalue neighboring homes. Commissioners asked Ardalan to possibly contact neighboring landowners to see if they would consider rezoning the area as a whole. Ardalan said she thinks her development could increase values. She said she isn’t sure what kind of business would occupy the space.
In other news, the Plan Commission also received a petition to allow a remodel of the Mejier at 1424 W. Carmel Dr. The store wishes to improve its façade, add a new sign, construct a pharmacy drive-thru and create an easier access point for the Starbucks inside the store.
The Plan Commission is also considering plan and design approval for a new McDonald’s at The Bridges planned unit development. Commissioners are trying to make sure the fast food establishment constructs a building that honors the area’s bicycle/pedestrian connectivity and fits with the neighborhood’s Prairie-Style architecture.
