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• <br /> • <br /> STAFF REPORT May 9, 1994 <br /> Initiated by the Area Plan Commission 1606-94 <br /> Location: <br /> City of South Bend <br /> REQUESTED ACTION: This is an Area Plan Commission initiated <br /> petition to amend the City Zoning Ordinance <br /> with regard to surfacing and screening of <br /> parking lots, loading areas, and outside <br /> storage areas, parking in required yards, <br /> nonconforming buildings and uses, and <br /> accessory buildings. The following is a <br /> summary of each of the proposed changes. <br /> 1. Surfacing of parking areas: Currently, <br /> any parking lot less four parking spaces does <br /> not need to be paved. The proposed ordinance <br /> requires that all open off-street parking <br /> areas be surfaced with cement or bituminus <br /> concrete meeting the minimum specifications of <br /> the Board of Public Works. <br /> 2. Screening: Screening of off-street <br /> parking areas located within 50 feet of a <br /> residential zoning district is currently <br /> required. The proposed ordinance will require <br /> screening for off-street loading and outside <br /> storage areas, as well. A definition of <br /> "effective screen" will also be added for use <br /> with the new "0" Office district. <br /> 3. Parking in front yards: This provision is <br /> being modified to allow for parking within <br /> the front yard setback that is provided for in <br /> the "0" Office district. The "0" Office <br /> district allows parking to be located 15 feet <br /> from the right-of-way provided that the 15 <br /> foot setback is extensively landscaped. <br /> 4. Nonconforming buildings and uses: The <br /> nonconforming use provisions of the Zoning <br /> Ordinance will be amended to allow for the <br /> expansion of nonconforming single family <br /> dwellings and accessory buildings without <br /> rezoning the property. Currently, any <br /> expansion or replacement of a home or garage <br /> located in a commercial or industrial zoning <br /> district is not permitted, requiring that an <br /> individual rezone his or her property to make <br /> the improvements. A second change to the <br /> nonconforming use regulations deals with <br /> changing the use of a nonconforming structure. <br /> The ordinance currently allows a building to <br /> be changed to a use permitted in the same use <br /> district as the existing use is permitted. <br />