04-26-10 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING APRIL 26, 2010 Councilmember Timothy Rouse, Chairperson, Community & Economic Development Committee, reported that this committee held a meeting this afternoon and it was the consensus of the committee to send this bill to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. th Mr. David Relos, Planner, Economic Development Department, 12 Floor County-City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, Indiana, made the presentation for this bill. Mr. Relos advised that this bill would allow for the approval of an order of the St. Joseph County Area Plan Commission approving a declaratory resolution adopted by the South Bend Redevelopment Commission. He stated that this process began when the South Bend Redevelopment Commission (RDC) conducted a study and determined that it is necessary and beneficial to the orderly redevelopment of the Airport Economic Development Area (AEDA) to add various parcels to the AEDA Acquisition List. Additionally, the RDC is seeking to reconfirm the legal description for the AEDA. He stated that there are four specific target areas within the AEDA. The areas are targeted to enhance the surrounding businesses and neighborhoods, and in one instance, to partner with an educational facility to further their expansion needs in light of large increase in enrollment. Area 1: Ignition Park South; Area 2: Ignition Park West; Area 3: Ivy Tech/Gorny Plaza and Area 4: Airport Industrial Park, Phase 2 A Public Hearing was held on the Resolution at this time. There was no one present wishing to speak to the Council in favor of this bill. The following individual spoke in opposition to this bill. Mr. Jerry Niezgodski, 2930 Bonds Avenue, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he is representing the neighbors of the Lincoln Way West Gateway Association (LWWGA.) and is speaking in opposition to this resolution Mr. Niezgodski stated that he is the Chairperson for the LWWGA and asked the Council to vote no on this resolution. He stated that he is just one person, but is speaking for hundreds. He stated that although he is asking the Council to vote no on this resolution, he will remind the Council that he has personally spoke in favor of adding Portage Prairie to the Airport Economic Development Area. He has spoken in favor of the tax abatement for the building at Innovation Park. He has also spoken in favor of other projects proposed by the administration. He stated that he understands the significance of this resolution in the grand scheme of things and normally would support moving things forward in the Ignition Park project area. However, he stated that he cannot stand before the Council tonight in good conscience to speak on behalf of the neighbors in favor of what appears on the surface to be a rather benign resolution given what this represents to the neighbors and supporters of the redevelopment of LaSalle Square; one more instance of neglecting the plan to redevelop LaSalle Square. He stated that the neighbors and he feel that plans to redevelop LaSalle Square have been relegated to the back burner by this administration and it’s Executive Director of the Department of Community and Economic Development. One of the first items identified to be undertaken within the first five years of the LaSalle Square Area Redevelopment Plan was the extension of Bonds Avenue through the square along with the introduction of curbs and sidewalks so they would have a dedicated street that essentially divides the square into identifiable parcels to develop. To date they have not started acquiring the property to do this nor have they conducted the survey work as preliminary steps to make offers to buy the land from the affected parties and construction is no where in sight. He reminded the Council that the Resolution to add Portage Prairie says and of a few statements from the administration regarding the significance of LaSalle Square. (See attached hand-out on file in the Office of the City Clerk for spending to date for Ignition Park, Portage Prairie and LaSalle Square.) He stated that granted LaSalle Square is a much smaller scale project when compared to Ignition Park but having acquired and demolished one property to date is all that has happened inside the Square itself. The library has expanded inside the square but that was not a process overseen or paid for with TIF money. TIF money was used for the Bendix Physicians offices but again, that is not inside the Square proper. Mr. Niezgodski 7