Redevelopment Projects, Christkindlmarkt Appointment, and more! - 6/16/25

Hello neighbors,  

Last week, I left Carmel for a very special reason—my daughter’s graduation from the University of California, Davis! It was so moving to see the culmination of all her hard work and dedication. Plus, I got to enjoy the Cali sun! I am so proud of her and can’t wait to see what incredible things she does next!

I also attended the ribbon cutting for the new Huntington Bank branch here in Carmel. It’s always an honor to welcome new businesses to town!

Happy Juneteenth- Come join Carmel High School Students at the first Carmel celebration of this event at Carter Green today!

As always, you can watch the entire City Council meeting here. 

CITY COUNCIL MEETING UPDATES

Mayoral Comments

• Mayor Finkam recently visited several fire stations, and firefighters thanked the city council for new equipment and the new ambulance. It's so important to support the first responders that keep our city healthy and safe.

Finance Committee Update

• The Finance Committee reviewed several tax abatements and sent them to the council with the recommendation to “make no modifications.” 

Land Use and Special Studies Update

• Sergey Grechukhin, Plan Commission Legal Counsel, spoke to us about Article I, which will create enforcement for vehicles on multi use paths. 

• The Land Use Committee will submit Article I to the City Council with a favorable recommendation once it has cleared the necessary time for the public to provide comments. We will review this for a vote at the next meeting.

Old Business

Reading of Ordinance D-2762-25

• Remains in Land Use & Special Studies Committee

• This would establish 15-minute parking space or spaces at the beginning of each block along Main Street from Knoll Ct to 1st Ave SE, regulate parking on Rangeline from Main Street to 1st Street, and remove inconsistencies and duplications of code.

Ordinance D-2769-25

• Remains in Land Use

• This would raise the fine for failing to display a valid permit for motor vehicle parking on a city sidewalk, multi use path, or bicycle lane to increase compliance with the law.

• Sergey Grechukhin, Plan Commission Legal Counsel, told us about changes made to this Ordinance by the Land Use Committee which are:

  • 1. Adding “equipment” as a definition as something that can’t be put in sidewalks, multi use paths, or bike lines. 

  • 2. Adding class 1, 2, 3 e-bikes 

    • This will limit vehicle speed to 20 mph

  • 3. Inclusion of definition of “micromobility”

    • “Any open air device designed for personal transportation propelled by mechanical or electric power regardless of whether a human is also propelling it, excluding electric mopeds and bikes over the speed limit

    • The micromobility definition encompasses a wide range of vehicles (and exceptions), which makes this ordinance more coherent and comprehensive.

    • A larger conversation on right of way regulations and permits and micro mobility will be coming soon.

  • Fees will be:

    • $200 - 1st violation

    • $250 - 2nd violation

    • $2500 - 3rd violation

      • This scheme will target repeat offenders.

  • The permit will have to be clearly displayed. 

  • Chief Sterling confirmed that e-bikes and similar motorized vehicles are not legal on paths

Ordinance D-2772-25

• Remains in Finance

• This would adopt requirements for nonprofit organizations receiving public support from the City.

  
  

Public Hearings

Ordinance Z-697-25

• Ordinance establishes the US 421-WCD Planned Unit Development District Ordinance (the “US 421-WCD PUD”). The Ordinance would rezone the real estate from I-1 Industrial to a Planned Unit Development district allowing the development of mixed-use development including multi-family and commercial uses as depicted in the Concept Plan.

• Jon C. Dobosiewicz, Land Use Professional at the law firm of Nelson and Frankenberger, spoke to us about his client’s rezoning request. 

  • Local Carmel developer Edward Rose and Sons is asking to rezone the area west of Michigan Road, south of Retail Parkway, and north of 99th Street for residential and commercial use.

  • They plan to build seven multi-family buildings, 360 apartments, pedestrian systems, parking hidden from the outside, common areas with two dog parks, tree preservation, a water feature, a plaza, and an EV charging available to the public 

  • Edward Rose and Sons held a neighborhood meeting in January to meet with potential neighbors.

  • The Plan Commission Review voted unanimously to send the rezoning request to the city council with a favorable recommendation.

  • Mike Steffes of ACES spoke in favor of the project.

  • The full council has until August 19 to act on this.

  • This plan will be further discussed during the next few land use committee meetings.

The area of the rezone request

New Business

Resolution CC-06-16-25-01, Resolution CC-06-16-25-02, Resolution CC-06-16-25-03

• Approved

• This resolution approves (1) a resolution of the City of Carmel Redevelopment Commission creating the new Gramercy East – Phase I Allocation Area, the Gramercy East – Phase 2 Allocation Area and the Gramercy East – Phase 3, Phase 4, and Phase 5 Allocation Area, all within the Gramercy Economic Development Area, including an economic development plan supplement, and (2) a related City of Carmel Plan Commission resolution.

  • City bonds last for 25 years after approval, and, since these phases will be approved at separate times, this resolution ensures that the city will capture the full economic impact of all five.

Other Business

Property Abatements/Compliance with Statement of Benefits – Deadline was May 15, 2025

• Returns from Finance Committee 

• All four have met compliance, were approved, and will be reviewed again next year.

• Includes:

  • Alliance for Cooperative Energy Services Power Marketing, LLC (ACES)

  • Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. (MISO)

  • Schlage Lock Company, LLC 

  • ZP Investments, LLC and Zotec Partners, LLC

Add-On Item

• Approved

• We voted to add on an agenda item that will recognize a Memorandum of Understanding that will do two main things:

  • 1. Shifts authority

    • This Memo will grant the Park Board the authority to bid on projects and provide the council with additional authority as a financing body.

  • 2. Finance 

    • If the budget amount for one project is decreased, it will be allocated to another project. 

    • Any project that exceeds its budget will require approval from the City Council, with some exceptions.

• For more detailed information, watch the explanation on the YouTube recording of the meeting from 1:14:00 to 1:26:00. 

  
  

City Council Appointments 

• We voted unanimously to approve Councilor Snyder as the councils nominee to the Christkindlmarkt Board. 

Events Around Carmel

• Join me today at the first official Juneteenth Celebration in Carmel from 4-8pm at Carter Green

• It’s adults only for the Slow Roll Dinner Cruise on June 34, beginning at 5:30 pm. Take a nice stroll with your fellow citizens for about one hour, starting and ending at Midtown Plaza. 

• Bike Carmel and the Carmel Caffeine Trail have partnered to create Coffee on the Monon, a way to thank bicycle commuters for riding to work. Come to Midtown Plaza Carmel the 4th Friday of each month from 6:30 am to 9:30 am. The first event is on June 27!  

• Americana on Main will continue for three more Wednesday nights June 18 to July 2. 

  • Coming up soon: 

    • June 25 – Square Dancing at Anthony’s Plaza

      • Square Dancing at Anthony's Plaza  with audience participation at the end from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

      • Themed Scavenger Hunt

• It’s almost time for CarmelFest! On July 3 from 1 pm to 10 pm and July 4 from noon to 10 pm, Carmel will host exciting activities, fireworks, a parade and more. Learn all about it on the website. 

• Join other local families for a 2-mile Family Fun Bike Ride starting at Carmel Elementary School on July 5! Registration begins at 8:30 am, and the ride begins at 9:30 am. 

Thank you all for reading this post and staying informed about your community. As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions, comments, or concerns. I hope you all have a safe and pleasant week!

Caring for Carmel,

Dr. Anita Joshi

If you have a fifth grade Carmel student who would like to give the mayoral update at a council meeting, please reach out to me and I will be happy to put your student's name forward.

 If you’d like to attend a City Council meeting, committee hearing, or other council events, please visit our website for the calendar.