Published: July 23, 2008 11:49 am            

Commission protects Main Street green space

The green space in front of the Canterbury Group may be tiny, but it is a big deal to the Zionsville Plan Commission.

McCrea Development wants to remodel its property at 25 Cedar St., Canterbury Financial, and build a 2,558-square-foot two-story addition, but the commission wants in return a 20-plus-year lease on the 17-foot by 50-foot-green space in front of the property facing Main Street. The commission also suggested that before the developers go before the Zionsville Board of Zoning Appeals on Tuesday, July 22, Roger Burrus, the attorney representing the developers, writes up a Right of First Refusal which gives a potential buyer the right to purchase a property first before it is sold to another buyer. In this case, it would give the town the opportunity to buy the green space before anybody else.

The commission voted 7-0 to approve the plans dependent on the approval of variances by the BZA.

The developers plans will go before the BZA to ask for variances on parking, a canopy and building lighting. The addition will be built out into the six-space parking lot in front of the building. A variance is needed to move the required parking spaces to angled off-street parking on Cedar Street. Burrus also said the planned canopy is wider than the ordinance allows and the lighting on the building will spill onto Cedar Street, which is also not allowed.

A King’s Art Studio and Gallery owner Ann W. King spoke out against the project citing problems with downtown parking. She said she is concerned that if the addition is used for retail space new employees would take up already limited parking space. Burrus said downtown parking has been a problem for at least 25 years and not something that could be solved at the meeting. He added that the developers are adding as many spaces at they physically can.

Town Manger Ed Mitro and commission member said the design and revisions do an “excellent job” of fitting into downtown Zionsville.

        

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