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Plan commission approves sidewalk, tree removal for Stella House Books and Cafe rebuild
Summary
The Carmel Plan Commission approved an ADLS amendment for Stella House Books and Cafe on July 27 after the petitioner agreed to install a continuous 6‑foot sidewalk, remove a compromised street tree and plant replacement street trees; approval is conditioned on finalizing Project Docs comments.
The Carmel Plan Commission on July 27 approved an amendment to the site and design plans for Stella House Books and Cafe, requiring a continuous 6‑foot sidewalk and replacement street trees after staff said an existing tree’s roots were severely cut by recent fiber work.
Mike Wiley of Schneider Geomatics told the commission that the city arborist found the tree’s roots had been “cut drastically” during fiber work and that the owners have agreed to a 6‑foot sidewalk across the frontage and to remove the compromised tree and add two new street trees. Alexia Lopez with the Department of Community Services said engineering and staff met with the petitioner and reached consensus: no on‑street parking will be required and the petitioner will install the 6‑foot sidewalk. Lopez recommended approval conditioned on the petitioner uploading revised plans and resolving outstanding comments in Project Docs.
Committee members sought confirmation that the tree would need to be removed and asked whether a previously requested streetlight remained a requirement; staff said engineering waived the streetlight requirement under the revised plan. After brief discussion, Commissioner Debbie moved to approve docket PZ202600049 as amended with the condition that all outstanding Project Docs items be satisfied; the motion was seconded and the committee approved the item 6 to 0.
Next steps: the petitioner must upload final plans and resolve outstanding Project Docs comments before the approval is finalized.
