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REGULAR MEETING MARCH 12. 2007
<br />s/Timothy A. Rouse
<br />Member of the Common Council
<br />Councilmember Kirsits, Chairperson, Zoning & Annexation Committee, reported that
<br />this committee held a Public Hearing on this bill this afternoon and voted to send it to the
<br />full Council with an unfavorable recommendation.
<br />Mr. Don Fozo, Building Commissioner, St. Joseph County, 125 S. Lafayette Blvd., Suite
<br />100, South Bend, Indiana, presented the report from the BZA.
<br />Mr. Fozo stated that the Board of Zoning Appeals hears this petition at its January 18,
<br />2007 meeting. The petitioners are requesting a special exception for a Group Residence
<br />in a "MU" Mixed Use district, on property located at 121 N. St. Louis Blvd. This
<br />petition is send to the Common Council with a favorable recommendation.
<br />Mr. Howard Dosmann, President and owner, Northern Electric Co., Inc., 116 North Hill
<br />Street, South Bend, Indiana.
<br />Mr. Dosmann advised that he owns the property located at 121 North St. Louis Blvd., and
<br />requests a special exception for a group residence at the Saint Louis property to enable
<br />him to rent the home to a maximum of 4 college students. The property at one time had a
<br />second home listed as 121 'h which has been removed. The space now existing will
<br />allow for off street parking for the homes occupants. Mr. Dosmann stated that he has
<br />owned the property since March 5, 1993 and have held it as a single family rental since
<br />purchased. Mr. Dosmann stated that his goal is for his company which employees 31
<br />people and is a union shop, is to build a 40,000 square foot building in the near future. In
<br />order to achieve this, Mr. Dosmann stated that he has to maximum his investments. He
<br />urged the Council's favorable recommendation.
<br />Mr. Mark Kramer, 812 E. LaSalle, owner, Kramer Properties, spoke in favor of this bill.
<br />The neighborhood in question has six vacant houses. There are four student houses in the
<br />neighborhood as well. There are only 2 owner occupied single family homes, at the
<br />present. Part of the reason that the neighborhood is declining is crime number one, high
<br />taxes, and the inability of landlords to be able to make ends meet and improve their
<br />properties, therefore they are becoming derelict. Mr. Dosmann has invested over 90,000
<br />plus dollars in this home and it looks very nice. Mr. Kramer challenges the Council to
<br />find another landlord other than himself that is able to invest, and it all boils down to cash
<br />flow. Because of the crime and the derelict homes surrounding these other homes it's not
<br />attractive for good quality tenants to come and live here. This is the major part of the
<br />decline in South Bend. That is why we have over 2,000 vacant homes in South Bend.
<br />Landlords cannot afford to offer decent housing, based on the tax rate and the rental
<br />monies available in the area. He whole heartedly supports Mr. Dosmann, he has a great
<br />plan, and his home is going to be an asset to the Community. Think about giving him a
<br />two-year probationary period. Monitor his house, monitor the activity of the students,
<br />given him a test, let him try.
<br />The following individuals spoke in opposition to the Resolution.
<br />Ms. Marguerite Taylor, 714 E. Corby, South Bend, Indiana, stated that she is here tonight
<br />to represent the North East Neighborhood Council. The North East Neighborhood
<br />Council is border on the east Twyckenham Drive, on the South by Jefferson Blvd., on the
<br />west by the river, and on the North by Angela Blvd. The North East Neighborhood
<br />Council was formed in 1965, and were chartered and received SOlc3 in 1967. Making
<br />them the oldest neighborhood organization to continue to meet in the City. Ms. Taylor
<br />stated that they invited Mr. Dosmann to attend the meeting a weeks ago to talk to the
<br />board. He came and handed a letter stating that he couldn't come and got in his car and
<br />left. If the Council can remember the loud and raucous homes ordinance came out of the
<br />4~` District, if you go back further than that, to Mayor Roger Parent's time, the two
<br />unrelated people living in the same house came out of the 4~` District. Because the 4~`
<br />District has the largest population of students in the City, with drunken parties, and
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