04-09-18 Zoning and Annexation - Laserfiche WebLink

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®CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK property. That is what we are willing to do because we think it is so important for us to be located there to provide services to the women on the West Side who are in need of our services. Mr. Nussbaum went on, As I mentioned before, Women's Care Center is not a politically active organization. We don't get involved with lobbying or demonstrations and if anyone has presented to you evidence, which they have, of other demonstrations, we have nothing to do with those. We don't participate in them, we don't encourage them and we have nothing to do with them because we don't believe it is in the best interest of the women who want to use these services. We don't make anyone feel guilty about the choices they make. We are a non judgmental and a loving organization. The evidence proves that. The fact that we have indicated we would put the kind of money in this area would only enhance the value of the properties in this area. It will be a benign use. They will be able to park and come in off of Lincoln Way. If they are taking a bus to our facility, they will be able to get off the bus at the corner of Lincoln Way and Illinois and walk a very short distance up to Elwood and access our property from behind. We will make a commitment that individuals can access the facility by foot from Elwood. We believe this is consistent with the comprehensive plan. The current condition and character being a mix of commercial and offices and therefore this will be consistent. The most desirable use from the Area Plan Staff state it is office or commercial use and we agree with that. It will preserve property values and it will sponsor responsible development and growth. Mr. Nussbaum continued, I want to move back to this safety issue. It seems to be a great concern to the members of the Council. The second handout I provided to you is what is entitled `Research Brief on 05-18'. This was a public concern and had harmful outcomes resulting the change of zoning for 3527 Lincoln Way West. This was provided to the Area Plan Commission and I think it was provided to the Council. I just want to go through a few things that were said in it. On the first page in the third paragraph it states the area between this property and at 3511 Lincoln Way West will become a zone of conflict. It will cause harm to public safety for the neighborhood and contrary corridor development. This brief provides evidence as to the real estate history of Women's Care Center Inc., public safety concerns, and how this rezoning does not fit with the commercial corridor plan. As I've mentioned, this rezoning fits perfectly with the commercial corridor plan. The history of the Women's Care Center is that we don't have conflict even though we may be located right next door from a center that might have a different perspective of women's reproductive rights. On the second page in the middle it talks about in 2016 a Women's Care Center moved into a property next door to the Bloomington Planned Parenthood. We didn't move in 2016. We moved in 2017 next to that. It then talks about picket signs on South College Avenue in Bloomington between the Women's Care Center and Planned Parenthood. I will tell you, categorically, that is not true. Those pictures provided are not in front of the Bloomington Women's Care Center or the Planned Parenthood. They just aren't. First of all,anyone who would protest, we would not have anything to do with. It talks about a constant stream of clinic harassment blocking busy streets and in quiet neighborhoods. The protestors disrupt traffic, cause nuisances and create an unsightly environment. That does not happen at our facilities. This is not true. I'm not going to say there aren't other organizations that might picket or do things like that, but that is not our organization or any organization we support. Mr.Nussbaum went on,It then goes on to talk about,on the third page,the legal remedies for most OBGYN Clinics to secure the safety of their patients is through buffer zone law, ordinances or injunctions. You don't need to do that here. We have offered to put in writing and would honor the commitment to not permit protests on our property. So you don't have to go through any of EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 1 227 W.Jefferson Bvld I South Bend,Indiana 466011 p 574.235.9221 if 574.235.9173 TTD 574.235.5567 1www.southbendin.gov 6