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Plan Commission approves Clay Terrace remodel to add Shake Shack and Cava
Summary
The Carmel Plan Commission approved design amendments to convert the former Red Robin at 14599 Clay Terrace Boulevard into two restaurants—Shake Shack and Cava—conditioning final approval on a staff-reviewed landscaping plan and standard sign permits.
The Carmel Plan Commission on Feb. 3 approved an amendment to the Clay Terrace Planned Unit Development to allow the redesign of a vacated restaurant at 14599 Clay Terrace Boulevard into two restaurant tenants, Shake Shack and Cava.
The application (Docket PZ-2025-00263), filed by Jim Brennan of Hines, was presented by Brennan and architect Dave Rausch of Lumenat Architects. Brennan said Hines is the new owner of Clay Terrace and has signed leases with Shake Shack and Cava to take the former Red Robin space; the team asked for design approval to renovate both the building interior and exterior and activate patios and new entrances.
Planner Alexia Lopez told commissioners that the building footprint, dumpster enclosure and parking will remain unchanged. She said the front entrances will be reoriented to face north toward 146th Street, and that the circular, former Red Robin entrance will be converted into a patio for Shake Shack. The plan keeps the stone base on the east (Cava side) and proposes a thin brick veneer base on the west (Shake Shack side). Lopez said three signs are proposed per tenant, that all signs must comply with PUD size limits, and that the applicants must still obtain sign permits through the normal review process. Staff recommended approval contingent on clarifying the replacement planting for removed arborvitae and confirming preservation of certain mature trees.
Architect Dave Rausch confirmed five existing trees on the south side of the building will be retained and said overgrown plantings along the east façade will be removed; he committed to submitting a low-scale replacement planting plan for staff approval. On façade materials, Rausch said the team will patch and paint existing EIFS and will not add new EIFS where it does not already exist.
Commissioners raised questions about a tall wrought-iron fence that surrounds the western portion of the property. The applicant and staff said the fence will remain; Rausch noted it functions in places as a guardrail/fall-protection measure, which supports retaining it. Commissioners also discussed parking circulation; one commissioner suggested the owner consider adding an access point to connect to a large adjacent parking area to improve circulation for anticipated popular tenants. On accessible parking, staff said code requirements are tied to occupant load and that the existing parking layout has been retained based on historic use.
A commissioner moved to approve the ADLS amendment with the staff conditions (including the landscaping replacement plan to be reviewed and approved by staff); another commissioner seconded. The commission approved the motion by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript. The chair closed the meeting.
Next steps: the applicants must submit final landscape plans showing the replacement for the arborvitae and proceed with sign-permit applications through Planning and Zoning.
