There were three items on the agenda for the February 23rd, 2012, public meeting of the Broad Ripple Village Association Land Use and Development Committee at the Indianapolis Art Center. There were about 20 in attendance.

A.1021 Broad Ripple Avenue, Michael Rabinowitch representing Thr3e Wise Men regarding the addition of selling liquor as well as beer and wine.

This proposal was by Scotty Wise to begin to fully use the existing 3-way (beer, wine, alcohol) license that Thr3e Wise Men owns. Currently, only beer and wine are served. The original agreement with the BRVA was to use the 3-way license as a 2-way. According to Scotty, business is down at restaurants, so there is a desire to add high-end bourbons and other drinks to the menu to bring in more people. He said that the current hours will remain the same, the restaurant will not stay open (as the license allows) until 3am. There was no vote taken or needed, but there was no opposition to the proposal.

This is a proposal to raze the three-story office building between the White River and Brugge Brasserie and the corner of Winthrop and Westfield. This project has been presented at a previous meeting and updates to the design were explained. There was no vote tonight as the design is still in development.

The latest design is for a five-story, 75-foot-tall apartment building with parking garage and retail space. The petitioner stated that the Broad Ripple Plan asks for buildings of 40 to 100 feet tall in this area. There will be 104 units with approximately 150 residents. The garage is expected to have 107 parking spots and space for 50 to 100 bicycle parking spots.

The developers will work with the City if improvements to the Monon Trail crossing at this location can be made and also on the possible project to terminate Riviera Drive into a new Riverwalk pedestrian pathway along the White River behind McDonald's. Another more finalized presentation is expected at the March 22 meeting.

This item was to ask the committee if there is support to ask for a different railing system for the canal esplanade that will be installed this summer east of College. The current design is a steel and cable railing system. There were many concerns raised including safety and maintenance. A safer and lower maintenance artistic railing was proposed. The committee voted to support this proposal to go back to the City and the developers of the esplanade to request this upgrade to the railings.

The next public meeting of the committee is March 22, 2012, at 6pm at the Indianapolis Art Center.