Committee recommends approval of Carmel ordinance to allow on-street parking on Autumn Drive

The Finance, Utilities and Rules Committee voted unanimously March 11 to send Ordinance D-2811-26 to the Common Council with a positive recommendation to change on-street parking rules on Autumn Drive.

The ordinance, described by the chair as an amendment to Chapter 8, Article 5, Section 8-47 of the Carmel City Code (sponsors Taylor and Warrow), would alter the parking designation on the Autumn Drive segment between 3rd Avenue Southwest and Atherton Drive. Committee members heard engineering analysis showing the proposed change would allow parking on the north side of the curb where signs currently prohibit it.

Director Pease, responding to a committee request to show the on-screen graphic, said “the green line there on the north side of that curb line … represents, roughly 220 feet of parking, a little more than 10—it would probably be about 10 spaces.” He told the committee the roadway is 36 feet wide, that parking on one side is within normal safety parameters, and that police and fire access were reviewed with no issues identified.

Committee members asked about the history of the no-parking designation. One council member said parking had been removed in the past amid event-related issues at nearby 3rd Avenue and Christkindlmarket; Director Pease said prior ordinances had focused on 3rd Avenue near the event entrance and that staff would verify exact past ordinance dates if needed.

The meeting record shows a nearby homeowners association raised concerns about transparency and potential road wear from vehicles turning to exit the dead-end portion of Autumn Drive. Director Pease said engineering had evaluated turning movements and did not expect widespread safety or wear problems and reiterated that the city maintains the roadway.

Brent Borum, director of strategic growth and partnerships at Senior Home Companions in Story Cottage and owner at 630 3rd Avenue Southwest, told the committee his business and neighboring tenants supported additional parking “to serve the clients' needs who visit our building on occasion and our staff” and to ease pressure on event days.

A council member moved to send a positive recommendation to the full council to approve Ordinance D-2811-26; another council member seconded and the motion carried unanimously. The committee did not record individual roll-call votes in the transcript; the action was entered as a committee recommendation to the Common Council.

The ordinance will next be considered by the Common Council. The committee noted the ordinance does not commit the city to any changes related to a conceptual future greenway on Autumn Drive; staff said that future project would be coordinated separately with the Parks Department.