The Broad Ripple Village Association (BRVA) Land Use and Development Committee met May 28, 2013, at the Broad Ripple Park Family Center to discuss the additional 35,000 square feet of retail space on College Avenue and the proposed tenant of Whole Foods. About 30 people were in attendance.

The meeting consisted of a discussion of the possible recommendations and solutions to the problems of the retail space proposal. Board members discussed the precedent this building would set for future building proposals in the Village and future plans for the canal front.

Many board members pointed out that a larger pedestrian activity would be desirable for this area in order to extend Broad Ripple further north. The BRVA envisions Broad Ripple with active streets and an engaged canal front and worry that the architecture and potentially blank, flat walls of the supermarket would take away from the desired atmosphere.

Some members of the committee agreed that a smaller Whole Foods store, around 15,000-20,000 square feet, would be more reasonable for Broad Ripple and would open up the rest of the area to other commercial and residential tenants.

The board plans to assemble a list of recommendations and present them at the next zoning meeting.

The next meeting of the Land Use committee is scheduled for June 25, 2013, at 6 pm at the Broad Ripple Park Family Center located at 1550 Broad Ripple Avenue.