Carmel shuts down Forrest Lucas' 'party barn' after more than 30 years of fundraisers

After protests from neighboring property owners about noisy, crowded late-evening galas and fundraisers, Carmel is closing down the "party barn."

The Board of Zoning Appeals on Monday voted against variances that would have allowed the Lucas family, which bought the property last year, to continue to host events at the 11,200-square foot venue. It's unclear whether Lucas will file an appeal to overturn the decision. 

The party barn has been a cornerstone of Carmel social life since Nancy Irsay, the second wife of Indianapolis Colts owner Robert Irsay, opened it more than 30 years ago. She helped raise more than $3 million annually for charities while hosting the likes of Tony Bennett, John Grisham, John Mellencamp, Kelsey Grammer, Kurt Vonnegut and Peyton Manning. 

Oil tycoon Forrest Lucas bought the property near West 116th Street and Ditch Road as an extension of his neighboring estate, intending to carry on what Irsay started. Most events draw 200 to 400 people, but the property can accommodate up to 700.

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After reviewing area zoning, however, local officials decided the party barn wasn't permitted in the residential area. Lucas filed a petition with the zoning board in August to bring it into compliance.

At first, things went smoothly for Lucas. The city's planning staff recommended approving the petition based on the longtime use of the party barn and its plentiful space and parking. They suggested a few conditions, such as ensuring the building was up to code and working with neighbors to address any concerns.

Several charities urged the zoning board to approve the request at its Aug. 28 meeting. Tim Ochs, a lawyer representing Lucas, said the party barn is a good deal for charities. Lucas, like Irsay, doesn't charge a rental fee, providing a prestigious space for charities to raise cash. 

Ochs called it a unique venue in Indiana. He asked the zoning board to consider that Lucas purchased the party barn after it sat on the market for three years with the intention of hosting charitable functions. He said Lucas spent his own money to revitalize it, including installing a new industrial kitchen. 

"If it can't be used for this (charity), it would be a waste for the community," Ochs said. 

Lucas, though, has heard mounting resistance from his neighbors. They have packed two city meetings and one open house to say they don't like the big crowds at the party barn. The loud music. The drinking. The traffic. The lights. 

The party barn, they say, is out of place. It's in an area of West Clay Township filled with mansions on large lots, fields, tree-lined roads and the prestigious Crooked Stick Golf Club. They say they've been calling the police for years but have been told the noise wasn't loud enough to run afoul of local regulations. 

Thirty-four people sent letters against the petition, only one in favor. Dozens spoke against it at two public hearings, only a couple in favor. 

Carmel resident Clark Zoll said the parties are intrusive. He's tired of the loud music and heavy traffic. At many functions, he said, people use microphones to make deafening countdowns of cash they've raised and how much more the need. 

He said that if the zoning board approved the party barn, more of his neighbors might seek approval to host similar events.

"I believe in charity," he said. "I believe you have to take care of your citizens. This is not the right place for this." 

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Tom Slama, president of the Crooked Stick Homeowners' Association, said the majority of the 131 homeowners he represents are against allowing the party barn to continue. He said there's nothing special about the Lucas estate that should give him the right to host charitable functions in the middle of a residential area.

"The American Cancer Society ... and other charities have survived without the Lucas estate and will continue to do so," Slama said. 

Not everyone was entirely against the party barn. Valerie Vinatieri, wife of Colts' kicker Adam Vinatieri, said she would like to see the venue stop hosting weddings and stick to charitable events, which would cut down on the number of events. 

"We moved out of the Village of West Clay, which we loved, to have a little more space," she said. 

Ochs said Lucas would make several concessions, including limiting the number of events per year to 26 and agreeing to ban weddings, anniversaries, bar mitzvahs and graduations.

Ochs said there weren't a lot of events annually, ranging from a high of 56 in 2012 to 39 scheduled this year.

Should Lucas or his family sell the party barn, Ochs said, he would agree to allow the zoning to revert back to residential. 

Two neighbors spoke in favor of Lucas on Monday. 

Robert Hicks said he's attended many events at the party barn where hundreds of thousands of dollars have been raised for charity. 

'"I just think we need to keep our eye on the big picture," he said. "It's not used much, and it's a treasure to the state of Indiana." 

Richard Deer lives adjacent to the party barn property and said he has no problem with the parties. He said he can see the event center from his back windows and doesn't mind the noise or the view. 

"'There is absolutely no problem on my part and I have the most to lose of any properties around," he said. 

Board members Alan Potasnik, James Hawkins and Earlene Plavchak voted against allowing the party barn to continue. Member Leo Dierckman voted in favor so long as events were limited to 26 per year and Tim Moehl voted in favor so long as only non-profits were allowed to have events. 

Carmel officials said the zoning prohibits galas, charitable functions and other large events at the party barn, mansion and property grounds. Ochs said he believed the decision only impacted the party barn and would work with city staff to clarify.  The Lucas family, of course, can continue to have private guests to their property. 

Call IndyStar reporter Chris Sikich at (317) 444-6036. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisSikich and at facebook.com/chris.sikich.