01/22/07 Council Meeting Minutes

Home Browse Search

REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 22, 2007 hundred twenty one (121) parking spaces are provided. There are existing driveways on Main Street and US 31 South. The landscaping meets the regulations without a variance. The intersection of US 31, Main Street, and Kern Road is characterized by commercial land use. Anew, limited access alignment for US 31 is being proposed. Indications are that the right-of--way may cross the western portion of the site that could affect the parking area. The site plan has been referred to the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT). The City of South Bend water and sewer utilities are available to the site. The Comprehensive Plan Policy Plan Objective C: Develop quality business areas to meet the retail and service needs of the planning area. The rezoning is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan economic policy. The Comprehensive Land Use Plan recommends the surrounding area for residential growth. The Comprehensive Land Use Plan was adopted in Apri12002 before the alignment of US 31 was established. The character of the intersection of US 31 Main Street, and Kern Road is commercial. The most desirable land use is commercial. The surrounding property values should be conserved since the commercial zoning and moteUhotel land use already exist. It is responsible development and growth to allow compatible re-use of property. Based on information available prior the public hearing, the staff recommends the petition be sent to the Common Council with a favorable recommendation. The site is within a commercial corridor. The City CB Community Business District is the equivalent zoning district of the existing County C Commercial. A hotel will replace the existing motel on the site. The site plan meets the regulations of the zoning ordinance without a variance. Mr. Bernard Feeney, Registered Land Surveyor, Lang, Feeney & Associates, Inc., 715 South Michigan Street, South Bend, Indiana, representing the property owner, Mr. Ranjan J. Amin, made the presentation for this bill. Mr. Feeney advised that the petitioner is seeking to annex and rezone the property located at 60971 U.S. 31 South, to allow for the construction of a new hotel. The site is 3.30 acres. The existing motel will be removed, and a three story, 71 unit hotel will be constructed. There will be 121 parking spaces and there will be existing driveways on Main Street and US 31 South. The landscaping meets the regulations without a variance. This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. There being no one present wishing to speak to the Council either in favor of or in opposition to this bill, Councilmember Puzzello made a motion for favorable recommendation to full Council concerning this bill and set it for third reading on February 12, 2007. Councilmember Kelly seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes. BILL NO. 88-06 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE AND ESTABLISHING AN HISTORIC LANDMARK FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 853 FOREST, IN THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA Councilmember Al "Buddy" Kirsits, Chairperson, Zoning & Annexation 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. Ms. Catherine Hostetler, Director, Historic Preservation Commission, 125 S. Lafayette, South Bend, Indiana, made the presentation for this bill. Ms. Hostetler advised that the bill before the Council tonight is for landmarking 853 Forest Avenue as a declared historic/architectural landmark. At the November 20, 2006 meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission sent this bill to the Common Council with a favorable recommendation. 20