03/12/07 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING MARCH 12, 2007 whatever else that comes along with it. Mr. Dosmann said that there is nothing happening along the river, if he was involved, there is a lot happening along the river. There is a planning group from the City and a lot of different areas looking at St. Joseph Hospital, and what is going to happen to that building. There is the NNRO the Northeast Neighborhood Revitalization Organization, that is actually looking at what is going on and not only looking but making decision about what is going on in the triangle area, the Notre Dame Avenue all the way to the river. Ms. Taylor stated that they are a group of people that actually cares about their neighborhood. The ugliest thing in the Northeast Neighborhood is the signs advertising for student rental housing. They understand that students need a place to live; they also need a place to party. The University of Notre Dame has banned all consumption of alcohol on their campus, so what do they do, they bring the alcohol off campus, into the heart of the 4~` District. The Northeast Neighborhood Council meets on the 2nd Monday of each month; they met tonight before the Council Meeting and voted on a Resolution. The Resolution was: The Northeast Neighborhood Council opposes the granting of the Special Exception for the property located at 121 N. St. Louis Blvd. Linda Stein, 1325 E. Cedar, South Bend, Indiana, President, Northeast Neighborhood Council. Ms. Stein advised that they understand the need for business opportunities and student housing that bring to the Northeast Neighborhood. They have funded many activities to bridge the gap between students and residents, but this is a continued struggle for the neighborhood to have to deal with the potential problems and problems that they have in the neighborhood with students. The Northeast Neighborhood Council has no objections with students living in the neighborhood; they just ask that they keep it to two unrelated people per home. The neighborhood has the opportunity to expand on the Eddy Street corridor; they have been invited to attend discussions on that. They have been invited to participate in discussions for the development of the triangle, and just about every business opportunity that comes to the neighborhood; groups approach the Northeast Neighborhood Council to discuss with them to dialogue. They did not have a chance to dialogue on this particular property. They are trying to avoid opening the flood gates for other student boarding houses in the neighborhood. They just don't want four people living in the same house together. It complicates the parking situation, it encourages other students to come into the home and also take up resources that are in the neighborhood. She urged the Council not to grant a Special Exception to the property located at 121 N. St. Louis Blvd. Ms. Ann Costello, 120 N. Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana, stated that she lives relatively close to the property located at 121 N. St. Louis Blvd. She also stated that she is a member of the Executive Committee of the Northeast Neighborhood Council. Ms. Costello stated that she lives in the "eye of the storm", and she is here to make an emotional appeal to the Council. Mr. Dosmann mentioned that there are 3 single family homes on the block, and he mentioned in a way that reflected that isn't it a pity that there are only 3 single family homes, lets develop the other opportunities on the block. Mr. Dosmann kept referring to his situation as unique, indeed it is unique, there are many other things that he could do with that property to benefit the neighborhood. Ms. Costello stated that she to has a unique situation, her home was built was in 1887. She is raising three children in this home, she stated that they walk habitually in the neighborhood, through Kramer Properties, and other student rental homes, and there is so much broken glass from beer bottles. Her sons are ages six (6) and seven (7), have to ride their bikes in the street, out around the parked cars. When she walks her baby in the stroller, there are students who park their cars across the sidewalk, so she has to go into the street around the parked cars also to get around. If the Council would like to see first hand how bad it is, just go down St. Peter between Sorin and South Bend Avenue. It is a block of Notre Dame Student rentals, it just happens to be from her house to her parents home, and you are forced to walk down the center of the street, because of the debris, beer cups, garbage that isn't disposed, dogs are getting into the trash and spreading it all along the sidewalk and tree lawn. It is a mess; the students partied and then left for Spring Break. You can see it in all its glory. Ms. Costello urged the Council to vote against this bill. 17