Carmel reverses course to allow The GOAT to operate past 2 p.m. under strict conditions

Two days after ordering The GOAT tavern to close at 2 p.m., the City of Carmel has reversed course.

On Dec. 10, the city announced that its Dept. of Community Services has reached an agreement with the tavern’s owners to allow it to temporarily operate under certain conditions until the Board of Zoning Appeals votes on a variance, which is expected in February 2021.

The city mistakenly permitted the restaurant to open on a residential site that had a variance that allowed restaurant uses only between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. Since The GOAT opened in mid-August, neighbors had frequently complained of loud noise, urination on private property and other issues, with many of the problems occurring after midnight. On Dec. 8, the city ordered The GOAT to abide by rules of the existing variance because of the repeated complaints.

The agreement states that owners of The GOAT will have 24 hours to make changes if conditions are not met. If they fail to do so, the city can require them to immediately shut down.

The conditions in the agreement are:

1. New hours of operation:

   1. Sunday through Thursday – 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

   2. Friday and Saturday – 10 a.m. to midnight

   3. All food and beverage service will end one hour prior to closing, which would be 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

2. Noise Levels and Capacity:

   1. Noise levels will be at or below 50 decibels.

   2. If an ordinance is passed by the City requiring new lower levels, operator will comply with those new levels.

   3. No live music.

   4. Only 40 persons or less per toilet in compliance with standards in the State of Indiana Building Code. If more restrooms are added, then the capacity can increase accordingly. The occupancy includes the indoor area and the three-season patio area.

   5. The Sandlot outdoor area, including the fire pit, will be closed unless use of that area is approved as part of the use variance.

3. Security:

   1. Operator will control the entrance, and exits of the premises to ensure all employees and patrons are using only public streets, sidewalks, paths and the Monon Greenway and not accessing through private residences.

   2. If necessary, operator will employ private security to ensure compliance with this and other requirements and to prevent endangerment of neighboring properties.

   3. There will be only one entrance into the building and it will be on the east side of the restaurant. Operator will make any improvements necessary to prevent entrance from Sandlot outdoor area or Monon Greenway directly.

   4. Operator will employ full time employee ”Bouncer” to be at the main entrance to confirm legal age of all who enter, prevent patrons from taking beverages outside the restaurant building, to ensure that all persons, except employees and staff, have left the building at closing and to prevent loitering in the immediate area after closing.

   5. Operator will direct all ride sharing activities to the drop off/pick up point near Midtown Garage.

4. Cleanliness:

   1. Operator will install a water hose to be used on a regular basis to clean outside of premises and surrounding area.

   2. Operator will be responsible for collection of trash in a three-block area following daily closing of the premises.