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Dear Editor:
The City Carmel has once again embarrassed itself in public. It announced its intention of seeking a court injunction to prevent the Lucas Estate from violating city ordinances.
Their lawyers say Lucas Estate has never been cited for a violation of any zoning ordinance and that it hasn’t been ordered to stop hosting events. They were not informed of any legal action, have never been for rent, nor have the Lucases ever charged for the use of their facilities in violation of anything.
City Hall either acted out of ignorance, or more likely, sought publicity as an alternative to enforcing its own ordinances.
Just another act of overreach by the gang that can’t shoot straight, but can borrow like a drunken sailor – $1.4 billon sailor.
Bill Shaffer
Carmel
It amazes me that Forest Lucas, who has created jobs & put money back into the enjoyment of sports fans across the country, (the previous owner of this property would fly his corporate helicopter in/out of the same property), gets slapped by Carmel, yet Mr Jeff Smulyan, (CEO Emmis Broadcasting), can hold fundraisers at his home for Bill & Hillary Clinton and Democratic causes, yet Carmel is mute.
Where is the fairness in that??
Shaffer’s assertions are just incorrect. The Lucases advertise all the time for events, including a recent concert series. They make money from selling food and drink. That is conducting a business in a residentially zoned area. We relied on the residential zoning when we invested in our homes in this area.
Simply because someone provides jobs doesn’t mean they are exempt from the laws passed by our duly elected representatives.
Fundraisers consists of inviting guests to donate—they are not a business. Lucas is using his residentially zones property to make money.
Shaffer is also wrong that Lucas has not been ordered to stop. Lucas applied to the Carmel Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) for an exception to be able to conduct a business from his residential property and BZA said NO. Lucas lost but he failed to appeal but arrogantly continued to break the law. It is all public record.
Why is Shaffer lying about these things? Is Lucas paying him or is he senile or just dushonest? Which is it Bill?
Mr. Meacham – First, Mr. Smulyan doesn’t live in Carmel or Hamilton County – at least in the last 20+ years I’ve worked for him. Second, while I appreciate the causes the Lucases support, Mr. Smulyan holds probably 1 fundraiser a year at his home, which is a completely different scenario than what is happening at the Lucas Estate.