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REGULAR MEETING <br />JANUARY 22, 2007 <br />limit this to the residential component as discussed. This project will have no tax <br />abatement involved with it and be done and developed by the owners. <br />This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents <br />and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. <br />The following individual spoke in favor of this bill. <br />Mr. John Roy, 18200 Warwick, Granger, Indiana, thanked the Council for taking the time <br />to review this project. It is something that has taken a lot of time to put together. A lot of <br />effort has gone into it, a lot of planning. He is excited about the project and prospects of <br />developing the project, cleaning up the neighborhood and helping the residents improve <br />their property values. Mr. Roy stated that he hoped everyone can see the merits in this <br />project. <br />Mr. Craig Taelman, Signature Homes, 1212 S. Walnut, South Bend, Indiana, stated that <br />he is the proposed builder for this project. He thanked the Council for their consideration <br />of this project. Mr. Taelman stated that he thinks the project will be a great asset to the <br />east side, The University of Notre Dame, and the South Bend Area. <br />Mr. David Foot, Highland Construction, Lafayette, Indiana, stated that he is the <br />builder/developers of the Wexford Site, that is on Willis Avenue. He stated that they <br />have also acquired the nine (9) acres site at Irish Crossings between Willis and Burdette <br />and Vaness Streets. He stated that they are very supportive of this project and believe <br />that it will raise the property values of the entire area. And it will overall add to the <br />economic vitality of the area. <br />The following individuals spoke in opposition to this bill. <br />Mr. Robert Howland, 54739 Willis, South Bend, Indiana, stated that if he remembered <br />correctly, this is the seventh zoning action faced by the neighborhood since the end of <br />2002. With the exception of one, all have been initiated by people who do not live in the <br />neighborhood. Unlike residents, who live day-today with whatever care they give to their <br />properties, none of the three trying to develop the area commercially really live there. <br />Their record as stewards of their own land is not good; even though they own the land, <br />they don't care for it, typical of many who only utilize property occasionally; this <br />however is a temporary inconvenience unlike the permanent structures they now propose. <br />Regardless of ownership, there is the major concern of the magnitude of the proposal It <br />is overwhelming. Its three-story height makes it virtually unique outside the City itself. <br />Its height would put any roof-mounted air conditioning essentially right outside his <br />bedroom window. This project would surpass the length ofone-an-a-half football fields; <br />it is longer than either dimension of the block on which the City-County Building and <br />others stand. It rivals most downtown buildings in size. Ultimately, it is precisely this <br />magnitude which argues against the petitioned "MUD" zoning: Section 21-03.02 of the <br />City Zoning Ordinance for that classification: The development standards in this district <br />are designed to: maintain an appropriate massing and relationship between buildings and <br />structures within the district. There is no way the proposal maintains "massing and <br />relationship between buildings and structures within the district' there is virtually no <br />three -story building from Hill Street out to Grape Road. The "MUD" zoning has a <br />primary use: eating establishments, granting this would open up the possibility of such <br />use. Mr. Howland stated that he does not want to be located adjacent to an eatery. The <br />continuous kitchen noise would be feet away from his bedroom window. A facility of <br />this magnitude will have dumpsters probably several of them. These draw animals and <br />unwanted illegal dumping from other areas. Not to mention that commercial dumpsters <br />are usually emptied in the early morning hours. The downward winds will blow the <br />unpleasant odor once again right into my bedroom window. No amount of protective <br />vegetation can block this. Mr. Howland stated that he also speaking on behalf of Jean <br />Johnson, 54703 Willis, South Bend, Indiana, and Chester & Gladys Los, 54722 Burdette, <br />South Bend, Indiana, who were unable to attend the meeting tonight. <br />18 <br />