09-12-11 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 12, 2011 billboard will be further away from Laurel Street, have less of an impact to the neighborhood, and allow for a better usage of the parking lot. Mr. Burne Miller, Troyer Group, 550 Union Street, Mishawaka, Indiana, made the presentation for this bill on behalf of the Salvation Army and Burkhart Advertising. Mr. Miller advised that this a part of the overall Kroc Center Development. It is the final portion of it. He stated that they have worked together with Burkhart Advertising and the Salvation Army alongside City Engineering, City Development, and the Building Department, they have worked very closely with the City on this project to make this happen and are very excited about it. It brings forth a great opportunity for an improved parking area, better access for the parking lot, people to get out from and onto Laurel and then onto Western. He stated that they think it makes what needs to be done here happen in a much greater and more efficient way. He stated that he looks forward to the Council’s positive response. This being the time heretofore set for the public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. The following individuals spoke in favor of this bill. Ms. Jacqueline Rucker, Board Chair, Salvation Army Advisory Committee, 217 S. Michigan Street, South Bend, Indiana. Ms. Rucker stated having this voted on favorable with help to ease the movement of vehicles in and out of the parking lot and would make it that much easier for the people who participate in the Kroc Center to be able to do the things that they really get there to do and not have to be hung up with traffic. She hoped that the Council would vote favorably on this bill. Ms. Angela Watson-Washington, Advisory Board Salvation Army, 1229 Echo Drive, South Bend, Indiana. Ms. Watson-Washington stated that she is in favor of this. She stated that she hopes the Council will vote favorable for it. She stated that they need the additional parking spaces for staff and for the additional patrons of the Kroc Center. There was no one present wishing to speak in opposition to this bill. Councilmember Henry Davis asked how far down Laurel Street will improvements be made. Will that street be widened or will it be at least the same size that it is right now or will it be decreased as far as the width. th Gary Gilot, Director, Public Works, 13 Floor County-City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, Indiana, advised that the conversations that he has had with the Kroc Center indicate that the adjacent pavement for Laurel and Pine near the parking lot will be resurfaced, that there will be new curbs and new sidewalk. He stated that he had indicated at the earlier meeting that if there was any gap in the scope of work there, the city would fill it with it’s concrete crew. The petitioner improving the public rights-of- way all around every edge of their parking lot and the reconfiguration of the billboard is about the most that you can ask of a petitioner to request them to go up and down Western or go further into the neighborhood would be beyond the scope of this project so, he thinks that they have done everything that the city could ask of them as a petitioner for rezoning and the city will need to do project that will build upon this. He stated the Councilmember White mentioned the church a block down, the Elks Club may want to participate in the city’s curb and walk program, where they would just need to help with the materials money and the city would do the labor and equipment so, this project is doing it’s share of the heavy lifting and the city will try and dove tail with it. 3