Special Exception - 508 & 512 W Colfax

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THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY AREA BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS PETITION a. PETITIONER'S NAME: South Bend Heritage Foundation, Inc. PETITIONER'S ADDRESS: 803 Lincoln Way West, South Bend, IN 46616 PETITIONER'S PHONE: (574) 289 -1066 b. LOCATION OF THE PROPERTY: 508 & 512 West Colfax Street, South Bend, IN 46601 c. STATEMENT OF VARIANCE REQUESTED AND REASON FOR REQUEST; The petitioner requests a special exception use to allow for a commercial parking lot containing 22 parking spaces and 2 handicapped spaces (24 in total). The petitioner wishes to develop a parking lot at this location to support its parallel re- development of the nearby Rushton Building. The Rushton project will rehabilitate 23 senior housing units with funding received through Low Income Housing Tax Credits and Historic Preservation tax credits. The subject property at 512 West Colfax is just north of the Rushton Building and an easy 75' walk away. d. STANDARDS FOR SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS I.C. 36 -7 -918.4 addressed as follows: i. The proposed use will not be injurious to the public health, safety, comfort, community moral standards, convenience or general welfare. The parking lot will be a positive support for the senior housing facility located nearby. It will be policed and maintained by South Bend Heritage Foundation. ii. The proposed use will not injure or adversely affect the use of the adjacent area or property values therein. The South Bend Heritage Foundation will maintain the landscaping in an effort to screen visual blight and improve the area's appearance and will also be responsible for debris removal, snow plowing, and patrol the lot for unauthorized use. Further, the parking lot will be used by residents of the Rushton Building, located just south of the proposed parking lot. iii. The proposed use will be consistent with the character of the district in which it is located and the land uses authorized therein. The proposed parking lot will be tastefully done. This will be achieved by acknowledging the commercial character of the historic area and providing parking spaces that are consistent with said character.