There were around 45 in attendance at the July 22, 2025, public meeting of the Broad Ripple Village Association [BRVA] Land Use and Development committee that was held in the basement of Northminster Presbyterian Church, 1660 Kessler Boulevard.

There were two items on the agenda, in bold below.

This proposal was presented by the Sapling School to rezone the adjacent property that was purchased as an expansion of the school. The committee voted unanimously to support this petition.

0 Canal (Northwest quadrant of intersection of College Avenue and Westfield Boulevard) - City of Indianapolis, Department of Public Utilities, Board of Directors for Utilities Trustee, Public Charitable Trust for Water System by Mark Demerly: Hannah Able with PAD Architecture presenting on a request of Variance of Development Standards of the Consolidated Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance to provide for the installation of a 30-foot tall steel sculpture on top of a 4-foot tall concrete base with a zero-foot front yard setback and within the clear sight triangle of the intersection of College Avenue and Westfield Boulevard, and encroaching within the right-of-way of Westfield Boulevard (encroachments not permitted). Case #2025-DV1-035 - Hearing scheduled for August 5, 2025 (This has been continued to the September 2, 2025, meeting).

The majority of public attendees were at the meeting for this item on the agenda. The committee explained that this meeting is only to approve a variance to the clear sight triangle on the northwest corner of College and Westfield, not to weigh in on the appropriateness of the proposed sculpture for the site. Regardless, following the presentation about the variance, all interested parties were allowed to speak at the meeting. It was explained that a public meeting about the art piece itself was held in February at the Indianapolis Art Center. Here is the Gazette's coverage of that meeting.

As for the variance, it was presented that the site's current zoning regulations would not allow for anything to be placed on the site. The clear sight triangle, as it was explained at the meeting, is a triangle formed by the three points — the corner of the site and two points 150 feet from that corner in each direction. This makes a large triangular area that must be kept free of obstructions to the vision of drivers on those streets. The existing Broad Ripple Village sign was placed on the site before the zoning laws were changed, incorporating the clear sight triangle requirements. Modifications to the site, such as replacing the sign with a sculpture, require the zoning to be met. Since there is no way for anything to be placed on the site that will conform to the requirement, a variance is being requested.

Following the variance discussion, many in the audience rose to speak their opinions on the proposed sculpture.

Attendees expressed the opinion that the proposed sculpture was not appropriate for that part of the Village. The area where the Monon Trail crosses the canal was brought up as a better spot. It was mentioned that the existing sign welcomes people to Broad Ripple, while the proposed sculpture eliminates that.

The residents that attended the meeting stated that they were not aware of the February meeting and asked what they can do now to oppose the new art. That public meeting was announced in the BRVA newsletter and was in the Broad Ripple Gazette / Random Ripplings calendar at the time.

The committee said that any resident can sign up for the BRVA newsletter whether a member of not.

It was discussed by both the audience and the committee that there should be concern about this location's safety. The plot of land for the sculpture is very small and at a very busy and complicated intersection of three roads. It is likely that people would try to get to the art for pictures and could create a dangerous situation.

Even though this was not the meeting to comment on the art, the committee allowed anyone to speak. Residents were encouraged to make their voices heard on this and all items of interest in the Village. It was suggested that residents make contact with the parties involved with the placement of the sculpture, which is not the BRVA. Another way to speak up would be to attend the City-County Building hearing on the variance. Although, this is a variance on the clear sight triangle and not the art.

The committee voted to support the clear sight triangle variance. There was one no vote and one abstention.

The next public meeting of the committee is scheduled for Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at 6pm, at Northminster Presbyterian Church.