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2007 08 10

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Converted from paper version of the Broad Ripple Gazette (v04n16)

Committee discusses properties and business clean-up contracts - By Ashley Plummer

posted: Aug. 10, 2007

By Ashley Plummer

The Broad Ripple Village Association Land Use and Development Committee met on Tuesday, July 24, 2007, to discuss current zoning and development issues within the Village.

Besides the four pieces of property set to be discussed by the committee, other business at hand included discussions on how to keep the area cleaner.

Elaine Zukerman brought to the attention of the committee that the Wild Beaver Saloon, located where Dick's Bodacious BBQ used to be, will begin to work on renovations for the inside of the bar. The new owners have a liquor hearing date on September 4, 2007.

"We were able to get the president of the Wild Beaver Saloon to sign our BRVA liquor agreement," Zukerman said. "They had initially wanted Sunday sales, but with the agreement, they are only allowed to do that 12 times a year."

Zukerman continued by explaining that the location where Wild Beaver Saloon will be has always been a bar, and that by getting them to sign the agreement on Sunday sales, it was the most the Village Association could do to keep more bars from entering the strip.

"It's not a new bar, just a new name for a place that has always been a bar," she said.

Sharon Butsch Freeland added that the Wild Beaver Saloon owners also agreed to sign the new BRVA cleaning agreement.

"It's a rather exhaustive list of things that they will agree to do to keep the area clean," she said. Butsch Freeland noted that it includes picking up trash at various times throughout the day, scraping the gum off the sidewalk, picking up cigarette butts and power-washing the sidewalk at least four times a year.

The cleaning agreement is a new function that members of the BRVA have taken upon themselves with help from Indianapolis Downtown Inc (IDI).

"We called IDI to see what they were doing to keep their downtown bar area and streets clean, assuming that it was the city who was in charge," Butsch Freeland said. "Only to find out it wasn't the city."

She continued by explaining that it is actually the downtown businesses that work together to keep their bar and restaurant areas clean. They all have what is described as a somewhat contractual agreement that they sign, promising to keep the area around their businesses clean and free of garbage.

The BRVA has drafted their own version of the contract, which has now been turned over to the Beautification Committee.

"IDI recommended that we begin slowly [at gathering the number of businesses] and expand," Butsch Freeland said. "They have been working at this for 15 years, and the businesses involved in the agreement now stretch from South St. to 16th St. on the north, and from East to West Streets."

The BRVA Land Use and Development Committee all agreed that this will be a very beneficial addition to the village, and continued on with land use discussion.

The first piece of property to be discussed belonged to Chris Moyer, who represented Segway of Indiana LLC. Moyer came before the board to discuss some minor changes involving adding window signs and a new paint job at 853 E. 65th Street, where his business is located.

Since his additions did not break any current zoning ordinances, the committee thanked him for checking with them first and agreed that he should have no problems with the city when he seeks to make his additions.

The second item on the agenda involved Binkley's Restaurant, HAUS and the adjoining properties, which were represented by Mary Solada. The owners wish to modify conditions from 2004 that regulate the types of seating, patio enclosures, awnings and signage allowed on the properties.

"We are not trying to change anything on any of the properties," Solada said. "We just want to get things straight and keep them the way they are. There is no hidden agenda here."

The owners of the properties have their hearing downtown set for August 28, 2007.

The next development up for discussion was not unfamiliar to anyone-the Winthrop Condominiums. As reported in the Gazette issue 14, the project was voted down 4-3 by the City at a recent meeting downtown, with help from a letter of non-support from the BRVA.

Dave Gilman was present once again to represent the developers. He received approval to file a new zoning petition on the property and was attending the meeting to discuss changes to the construction involving density, parking and the square footage of the units.

He presented a newly designed plan to the committee that included two fewer units (23) and more parking than the original plan.

While committee members thanked Gilman for coming, they said they stood by their original decision to not support the development. Even with the subtraction of two units and the addition of parking, they still felt the density of the development was to high and continue to not be supportive of multi-home developments in such a little area.

Gilman thanked the committee for their time. He said that the development will continue as planned, with their downtown hearing scheduled on August 11 to file the new design.

The final issue for discussion involved construction taking place at 515 E. 62nd Place. Neighbors John Nolan and Josh Williams were present to discuss what appears to be illegal construction on the once vacant lot.

Williams discussed the fact that someone was building a structure that appears to be too big for the lot and against current zoning regulations without a permit to do so.

The committee replied that they were thankful the neighbors brought it to their attention, but that they should turn the property over to the city for further inspection, specifically because there was no permit posted.

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