12-12-11 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING DECEMBER 12, 2011 Family and Two Family District. To the east is the site of the new St. Joseph High School zoned SF2 Single Family and Two Family District. To the south across LaSalle Street is a property management office and a vacant gift shop both zoned MU Mixed Use District. To the west is the site of the new St. Joseph High School zoned SF2 Single Family and Two Family District. The SF2 District is established to protect, promote and maintain the development of single family dwellings and two family dwellings in the urban core of the City of South Bend as well as to provide for limited public and institutional uses that are compatible with an urban residential neighborhood. The availability of public facilities (e.g. public water, public sanitary sewer, storm sewer, natural gas, electricity, telephone, etc.) is required for development within this district. No site plan is required for a rezoning to a residential district. The St. Joseph Regional Medical Center formally occupied the entire block bounded by LaSalle Avenue, Notre Dame Avenue, Cedar Street and St. Louis Street. It was rezoned to SF2 Single Family and Two Family District in May of 2011. LaSalle Avenue is a two lane street. A street and alley vacation has been submitted to the Board of Public Works for St. Peter Street and one north-south alley and one east-west alley adjacent to this site. The future land use plan within City Plan identifies this site as mixed use. The former Family Dollar store is currently vacant. The surrounding land is under construction for St. Joseph High School. The most desirable use of the property would be a use that would be compatible with the adjacent development. The surrounding property values should not be affected by the approval of rezoning since the proposed use is not a higher intensity use than its prior use as a retail store. Furthermore, the redevelopment of this prior brownsfield site is a positive investment within the neighborhood and may act as a further catalyst for additional investment. It is responsible growth and development to allow for the redevelopment of a vacant property. Based on information available prior to the pubic hearing the staff recommends that this rezoning petition be sent to the Common Council with a favorable recommendation. Ms. Nayder advised that the Area Plan Commission held a public hearing on October 18, 2011 and sends this bill to the Common Council with a favorable recommendation. The redevelopment of this site to a zoning classification that matches the balance of the block will provide an opportunity for a compatible development to the high school. Mr. Mike Danch, President, Danch, Harner & Associates, 1643 Commerce Drive, South Bend, Indiana, made the presentation for this bill on behalf of the City of South Bend Board of Public Works. Mr. Danch advised that his client is requesting the approval of a rezoning for the property located at 717 East LaSalle Street. He stated that this rezoning would allow for the construction of athletic fields proposed for the new St. Joseph High School campus facility. He stated that they believe the use of this property for athletic fields would be an acceptable use in this Northeast neighborhood area that presently contains a mixture of varying land use types from: single family homes to commercial facilities. This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Councilmember Henry Davis asked if the property was auctioned off. Mayor Luecke stated yes it was. The bidder was the Diocese of Ft. Wayne/South Bend. 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 concerning this bill. Councilmember Kirsits seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes. 11