04-10-06 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING APRIL 10, 2006 O (Office) as the building is not easily convertible to a multifamily use due to the small size of the building’s structural bays. And, O (Office) is the traditional use of the property. The property is surrounded by a 6 foot high solid brick wall and so on-site parking and other ancillary exterior office uses will not be an intrusion into the surrounding neighborhood, which is zoned primarily SF2. South Bend Heritage Foundation has been discussing the potential sale of the building to Wightman Petrie Consulting Engineers and Land Surveyors for use as their offices. Whitman Petire has outgrown their present space and would like to remain in the Near West Side downtown area. Without this rezoning, Wightman Petrie will not be able to purchase the property and make improvements to this building. 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 Dieter made a motion for favorable recommendation to full Council. Councilmember Pfeifer seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of seven (7) ayes. BILL NO. 09-06 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 929 LINCOLNWAY EAST, SOUTH BEND, INDIANA COUNCILMANIC DISTRICT 3, IN THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA Councilmember Kirsits made a motion to hear the substitute version of this bill. Councilmember Dieter seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of seven (7) ayes. Councilmember Kirsits, Vice-Chairperson, Zoning and Annexation Committee reported that this Committee met this afternoon and it was the consensus of the Committee to send this substitute bill to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. th Mr. P.J. Thuringer, Staff Member, Area Plan Commission, 11 Floor County-City Building, South Bend, Indiana, presented the report from the Area Plan Commission. Mr. Thuringer advised that the petitioner is requesting a zone change from “O” Office to “CB” Community Business to allow an office, retail, wholesale, and warehouse. On the 1.173 acre site is a vacant building zoned “O” Office. To the north is the Eddy Street on- ramp. To the east is the St. Joseph River. To the south is Sign Designs which is zoned “LB” Local Business, and to the southwest is a heating and plumbing contractor business zoned “LI” Light Industrial. To the west is Quality Glass and a vacant building zoned “GB” General Business. The “CB” Community Business District is established to provide a location for high volume and high intensity commercial uses. Activities in this district are often large space users which may include limited amounts of outdoor sales or outdoor operations. The site is located at the northeast corner of Lincolnway East and Eddy/Sample Streets. The building is 25 feet in height, and 6,200 square feet covering 12% of the site. Access to the site is from a southern driveway on Eddy Street. There are 28 existing parking spaces with the paved area covering 31% of the site. Landscape-open space covers 57% of the site. Prior to the adoption of the 2004 zoning map, this site was zoned “C” Commercial. Quality Glass located west across Lincolnway East was rezoned from “C” Commercial to “GB” General Business. Sign Designs located on the southeast corner of Lincolnway East and Sample Street was down zoned from “D” Light Industrial and “A” Residential to “LB” Local Business. The intersection of Lincolnway East, Sample Street, and Eddy Street is one of the busiest in South Bend. Over 19,000 vehicles per day pass a point east of Eddy Street on Lincolnway East. The Old Sample Street Bridge counted 6,576 vehicles per day in 2002. Municipal water and sanitary sewer serve the site. A rear setback variance will be needed for the existing deck. The Comprehensive Plan: Policy Plan Goal 2: Objective C: Policy ii: Promote the upgrading, 11