11-28-16 Zoning and Annexation - Laserfiche WebLink

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Anthony Zappia, Attorney -at -Law, with offices at 52582 State Road 933 North, South Bend, IN, represented the petitioner. Mr. Zappia stated, The petitioner is seeking a zoning modification, as was explained. The purpose is to build nine (9) (2 -) two -story townhouses with three (3) units in each building. He stated that the bill appeared before the Area Plan Commission the previous week and received unanimous favorable recommendation. Mr. Zappia stated, There was a significant amount of dialogue between my clients and the Northeast Neighborhood folks as a result of that dialogue. As a result of that positive communication, we've reached agreements on all matters. In fact, Bill Stenz, from the Northeast Neighborhood group, spoke at Area Plan Commission meetings supporting our project. Before that, Marco Mariani of the Northeast Neighborhood Revitalization Organization wrote a very nice letter in support of the project. We're talking about a $3,000,000 to $3,500,000 project here. We did get variances approved previously at the Area Plan Commission. There's a total of ten (10) commitments: five (5) would be enforceable by the governmental entities or the neighbors; the other five (5) through the Northeast Neighborhood Association groups. The basis of that was negotiations through the petitioner, and the Northeast Neighborhood through their attorney. We really came to an agreement pretty quick on all matters. So, we're happy to be here and are excited about the project. One of the things that we heard: we're in the price range for about $275,000 as a base range. I don't consider that cheap and a lot of people want to get in this neighborhood but are having a hard time getting within that price range, because you're hearing $400,000, $500,000, $600,000 a home. We already have a commitment from a family that has given us a deposit, and they're ready to go. You people are going to have a second one very shortly. Committeemember Voorde asked, Any lighting issues there, behind the places? Mr. Danch responded, Since we're NF 1 —same thing. It would just be the cutoff lighting at the top so that you don't have any spillage onto the adjacent properties. And what I gave Council were both sets of documents for the written commitments. So, the one that says "Exhibit A" on it the top one — that's the one that the governmental agencies will be able to enforce, like Angela was talking about with the land -use issues. The other one that says "Written Commitments: Exhibit A' — that's the one that will be enforceable by the Neighborhood Association. So, that's the one that deals with actually having the primary residences. That was one of the concerns the neighborhood had. Mr. Zappia recounted a previous experience with a project by Notre Dame wherein written commitments limited use of the property to graduate students. Mr. Danch added that the project at hand that evening would not house any students whatsoever. Commiteemember Jo Broden asked, What about transferability —if there's an ownership trade? Mr. Danch responded, Written commitments go with the land. Both sets. Mr. Zappia and Mr. Danch explained that the previously mentioned property by Notre Dame had changed hands a few times but the written commitments originally made were still in full force. Mr. Danch further explained that the variance shown on the site plan was due to the fact that the homes would be single - family units with zero (0) lot lines. He stated, That's one of the things that people are looking for. From a standpoint of financing, it's a lot easier to finance a single- 5