The January (2008) public meeting of the Broad Ripple Village Association (BRVA) Land Use and Development committee was held on the 22nd at Broad Ripple United Methodist Church. There were four petitioners on the agenda, each with a large development proposal. The committee hears the case made by each petitioner promoting their zoning request that is before the City of Indianapolis. The committee votes on each case and presents their recommendations to the BRVA board of directors. The board makes the final decision on the recommendation to be presented to the appropriate development board for the City of Indianapolis. The city makes the legal ruling to pass or reject each case.

First on the agenda was Mary Solada representing Binkley's Kitchen and Bar located at 5902 College Avenue. In the process of reviewing a permit variance at a nearby business, the City of Indianapolis planning staff took notice of the awnings, fire pit, planters and outdoor seating enclosures at Binkley's. All of these fixtures have been in place for some time. The planning staff asked if the planters impeded stroller or bicycle traffic. Binkley's owners replied that the sidewalks are wide at Kessler and College and that the planters are placed to allow room for pedestrian traffic. The planter are there to add greenery to the corner, but also serve as a safety feature. Each planter weighs about 3700 pounds and is pinned to the sidewalk, providing a barrier to an out of control car. The staff asked if the awning was fire retardant. Binkley's stated that it is and also agreed to open the awning directly above the fire pit to allow the heat to escape. The planning staff also expressed concern over the enclosure walls erected between the skirting and the awning on the north portion of the outdoor dining area that is connected to the bar. Binkley's explained that these walls were a requirement of the excise laws. The hearing will be Tuesday, February 26 at 1 pm at the City-County building.

The second petition on the agenda was for Brothers Bar & Grill that is proposed for the northeast corner of Broad Ripple Avenue and Guilford Avenue where Broad Ripple Trophy Center is today. This was the third time the Fortney brothers have come before the BRVA committee. Previous visits were for zoning. This time it was for a 3-way liquor permit. A 3-way permit allows for the sale of beer, wine and liquor. The Fortney Brothers explained that Brothers Bar & Grill will not be just another bar in the Village. The brothers plan to purchase the property and restore it to the way it looked when first built. Some readers may remember when Haag Drugs was at this location. (Photo available on www.broadripplehistory.com) The Fortney brothers also said the new establishment will be non-smoking, family-friendly, and closed on most Sundays. Two new retail spaces will be available in the renovated building. The tenants that occupy the remainder of the building intend to stay - Honeysuckle Home, Ceramic Dreams, Union Jack and Sigman's Gallery.

Brothers will be open for lunch. Pizza has been removed from the menu so as not to interfere with Union Jack Pub in the same block. Brothers will partner with law enforcement to determine the best way to run a business in Broad Ripple. The Fortney brothers have a policy of terminating employees that sell to a minor or to an intoxicated patron.

In response to a question of the expected percentage of liquor sales to food sales, the brothers said that since there is not a 60% local ownership in the restaurant (the Fortneys are from Wisconsin) Indiana law requires a minimum of $200,000 of food sales to retain the liquor license and they see no issue with that requirement.

Tom Bardach, owner of the trophy center, explained to the committee his reasons for moving. "Our business has outgrown the block," said Bardach. "We have already got our sights set on a building [in northwest Indianapolis] that is 20,000 square feet. If we expanded where we are now, we would literally blow clear through Union Jack and Sigman art gallery. We already have two other warehouses. If this [petition] is not approved, the trophy center [still] has to move. I wanted to find the very best [new owner] and I think I have been very fortunate. That corner needs to be used, I can't stay forever. I wanted people I was very comfortable with, who were honest and who would put the right investment [in the property] because I would like to leave Broad Ripple very proud of how I handed it off."

The hearing for the liquor license will be February 19 at 9:30 a.m. in the City-County Building.

The third petitioner was Cameron Clark representing Northminster Presbyterian Church located at Kingsley Drive and Kessler Boulevard. This petition is to rezone the area to allow for the properties at 5936, 5940, 5944 and 5950 Kingsley Drive and 5935 Ralston Avenue to become part of the church property. The petition also calls for the vacation of the unimproved alley.

Expansion of the church is needed to meet the needs of the growing congregation. Northminster wants to remain in Broad Ripple instead of "moving north like so many other large churches". The original portion of the church was built in 1946, with the sanctuary being added in 1956 and the Christian education building being added in 1966. This expansion will provide for a gathering space for the congregation and will provide additional parking that will reduce the on-street parking. All of the residents of the affected properties have met with the church to express their concerns with the project. Agreements were reached with all of the residents. Those agreements include retaining a privacy fence, placements of sidewalks and landscaping and changing the campus lighting to fixtures that direct the light down instead of out in all directions. The neighboring residents stated that they liked having the bright lights at the church for security, but want the lighting to be directed toward the church property as much as possible.

Three houses will be razed for the expansion. One house will remain to become a rental owned by the church.

The hearing will be February 14, 2008, at 1 p.m. at the City-County Building.

The last petitioner was Buckingham Properties with a proposal to rezone the property north of the Monon Place apartments to the special D-P classification. This would allow for the redevelopment of the McNamara building and grounds located at the Monon Trail and 61st Street. New apartments and retail spaces would be built on the property. Several improvements would be made to the existing Monon Place Apartments, including a new clubhouse, pool, internal drive improvements and landscaping.

The Buckingham representative explained that this property had a development plan rejected five years ago. Buckingham has attempted to address all of the concerns the city planners and neighboring residents had with the previous proposal. The previous plan called for a doubling of the retail space. The new, current plan reduces the retail space from the current 18,000 square feet to 12,000 square feet. This new retail space has room for the current tenants and one open spot for a new business. The developers stated they would like to see a non-chain family restaurant move into the open storefront, although the zoning laws would allow for a wide range of small businesses at this location.

Approximately 150 new apartments would be added to the Monon Place Apartments. This includes a new building that would replace the existing clubhouse and eight new buildings to the north.

There have been two D-P hearings at the City-County Building to discuss the details. A hearing before the Department of Metropolitan Development hearing examiner will be scheduled.

The next scheduled meeting of the BRVA land use and development committee is February 26, 2008, at 6 p.m. at Broad Ripple United Methodist church.