Carmel board tables demolition hearing for 11033 Haverstik Road for two weeks

The Board of Public Works and Safety for Carmel, Indiana, voted to table for two weeks a mandatory hearing on the demolition and removal of an unsafe building at 11033 Haverstik Road, City Attorney Benjamin Lakes said.

Benjamin Lakes, the city attorney, told the board the proceeding is a statutory mandatory hearing that allows "those individuals with a substantial interest in the property to be able to present evidence and for the city to present evidence related to this particular matter." He said the property owner submitted an application for a demolition permit the day before the meeting and the city wants to allow the permit process to run its course.

"The city doesn't want to. It's an extraordinary remedy for the city to have to step in and abate a matter where the property owner can do it," Lakes said, describing demolition by the city as a last resort.

Lakes said enforcement scheduled a meeting with the property owner, building and code staff, and enforcement personnel on Friday to review the permit and expected schedule. He asked the board to hold the hearing for two weeks to allow those steps; the presiding official then invited a motion to table the item.

Lakes stated, "I'll make a motion to table this for 2 weeks." A second was acknowledged, the presiding official called for a voice vote and, after members answered "Aye," declared the motion carried. The board did not record individual roll-call votes on the record.

With no other business on the agenda, the presiding official adjourned the meeting.

This item was listed on the agenda as item 7a, "Demolition and removal of unsafe building, 11033 Haverstik Road, Carmel, Indiana 46033." The board deferred further action pending the outcome of the owner—s permit process and the scheduled meeting between building/code staff and the property owner.