07/16/07 Council Special Meeting Minutes

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SPECIAL MEETING JULY 16, 2007 Mr. Compton stated that on page 21 Item # 19 entitled "Architectural Review Board" An Architectural Review Board "ARB" shall be established for Eddy Street Commons, the proposed added language is as follows: "Consisting of three persons; one person from Kite; one person from the University of Notre Dame; one person appointed by the South Bend Common Council. Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand recommended that procedurally a motion to accept the amendments as read into the record. Councilmember Puzzello made a motion to amend Exhibit A which is attached to the substitute bill. Councilmember Varner seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes. This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Chairperson White stated that this is the time for anyone who wishes to speak and did not speak at the July 9, 2007 Common Council Meeting, has the opportunity to share concerns, viewpoints and questions. The speaking will have five (5) minutes. Councilmember Derek Dieter will be the time keeper, and he will give you a signal when you reach down to the one (1) minutes mark, and she will ask the speaker to bring closer to their remarks. Stephen J. Luecke, Mayor, 14~` Floor County-City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, Indiana, advised that he is speaking tonight in enthusiastic support of the Eddy Street Commons. He supports the long hours of planning that has gone into this, the partnerships that have grown. He supports the new commercial and retail investment of $200 million dollars in the community. He supports the new jobs, both in construction and permanent jobs. He supports the commitments that have been made and in particular applaud this process that has refined and raised expectations for this development. He applauds Kite, for coming and making some of those commitments including just recently the commitment to sprinkle the town homes project as well. He supports the redevelopment of the triangle area which Eddy Street Commons will help to make possible. He believes that this development will draw from suburban retail more than from downtown. He believes that it will draw new people back to South Bend and closer to the downtown area. Especially with the neat phase of the development that will bring new retail to the reconstructed five-points area. He believes that this project will create vitality, energy, enthusiasm that will help to grow the market for retail, restaurants and convention and hotel use. He believes that this project will help to attract other development to the City of South Bend. He believes that it complements the research park. A number of the issues that have been brought up, some of those are things that can be addressed by the City administratively as they look at parking issues that may expand out into neighborhood, they can create residential neighborhood parking districts that would limit parking to the residences and their guests in those neighborhoods. They mentioned the connectivity to downtown and how can this support growth in the downtown. Mayor Luecke stated that TRANSPO does provide a bus loop that not only goes through campus, and all Notre Dame Students can ride the bus for free, but then will connect the Eddy Street Commons to the downtown area and help to bring people into the downtown. He believes that these will be new residents in South Bend that will fill these residential units, people that otherwise may have located in suburban areas. They will not only shop and work at the Eddy Street Commons, but he also believes that they will come into the downtown area and take great advantage of that. He believes that they cannot be afraid of new development and retail that in fact he thinks that they are creating a new model that reaches the calls for the retail that they have had all over the city, that people want retail in their neighborhoods, this is a great model for that. He doesn't believe that it is in strong competition with downtown, but again will support downtown. He stated that we need to believe in our downtown and continue to support the existing businesses down there, to seek new businesses there. He believes that this project will create two great paths that will see growth and development and continue to support the downtown area. He asked the Council for their favorable consideration of this bill. He 10