Parkwood Crossing seeks to remove underused parking, add green space; Carmel staff and BZA approve variance

The owners of Parkwood Crossing told the Carmel BZA they will remove underused asphalt parking on the east side of College Avenue and replace it with landscaped green space, and the board approved a parking‑ratio variance to permit the change.

Brian Shewert, a civil engineer with "Kimberly Horner and Associates," told the hearing the project will remove approximately 86 spaces south of Building 8 and west of Building 9 to create more amenity and green space. The east side of College currently is subject to a College Hills PUD parking requirement of 3.5 spaces per 1,000 square feet; the west side (Meridian Corridor zoning) requires about 2.9 spaces per 1,000. The planned changes would leave the complex with an approximate ratio of 3.37 spaces per 1,000 after the work; the petitioner argued that 2.9 per 1,000 is sufficient and that their proposal leaves substantial surplus capacity.

Shewert said the developer did a parking study and found large portions of the lot underused even in peak hours; the petitioner emphasized the move is a deliberate de‑densification to provide more green space rather than the more common request to add parking. The property owner — represented at the hearing by Patrick Moyers — and the owners association support the change. Planning staff said the petitioner provided a traffic/parking study and recommended positive consideration; the BZA approved the variance.

City staff and the hearing officer noted reviews from technical advisory committees were on file and planning recommended approval given the added landscaping and the parking study showing acceptable occupancy. The petition will proceed to the normal permitting and construction review steps.