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Board approves limited northbound closure of Veterans Way for event after engineering compromise
Summary
The Board of Public Works and Safety conditionally approved a one-lane, northbound closure of Veterans Way in front of the Studio M building for a petitioner’s event after city engineering proposed a compromise to preserve access to nearby businesses and address liability concerns.
The Board of Public Works and Safety on March 19, 2025 approved a conditional closure of the northbound lane of Veterans Way in the Studio M corridor, limiting the closure from Phelps Drive north to the Indiana Design entrance and including the diagonal parking immediately in front of the building.
Joshua Kirsch, engineering administrator for the city of Carmel, told the board that engineering could not “reroute traffic through private property,” and said closing only the northbound lane and the diagonal parking in front of Studio M would maintain access to nearby businesses and the Fire Administration building while reducing liability and traffic impacts.
Kirsch described the suggested compromise as a way to avoid landlocking businesses and to maintain connectivity in the road network. He told the board the change would allow drivers to detour onto Phelps Way and keep the southbound lane open for access to area businesses and emergency facilities.
Sergey Gerchuk, Office of Corporation Counsel, recommended making approval conditional on the petitioner obtaining permission from Studio M if Petitioner’s proposed closure requires use of Studio M’s private property for turns or maneuvering. “My recommendation would be if the board were to approve it, make it a conditional approval that if Studio M’s property is affected by this closure the petitioner obtains a permission from Studio M to do any U-turn or any other turn,” Gerchuk said.
A representative for the event applicant, who identified themselves as using Studio M’s prior application and said an affiliate of Studio M is the event landlord, said Studio M had closed Veterans Way for a similar event last year and that the venue would be willing to provide permission. The petitioner said they would work with staff to revise their application and timing as needed.
A board member moved to approve the limited northbound closure, specifying that the closure be limited to the northbound lane from Phelps Drive to the Indiana Design entrance and include the diagonal parking in front of the building on the date(s) set by the petitioner, and that approval be conditioned on petitioner obtaining any required permission from Studio M; another board member seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote (all present voting “aye”).
The board’s action preserves the southbound traffic lane and requires the petitioner to secure permission from Studio M for any use of private property for maneuvering during the closure. The board and engineering staff said the arrangement reduces potential liability and maintains access for businesses and emergency services in the corridor.
