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STAFF REPORT CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Date: 01/12/04 Application Number: 2004-1230 Property Location: 800 N Michigan Street (Intersection of Lafayette Blvd & Riverside Drive) Property Owner: City of South Bend, Board of Parks Landmark or District Designation: Local Landmark/ National Register Cultural Landscape Rating: 0/13 APPLICATION ITEMS: Permanent installation of an odor abatement — passive mediator filter scrubber system in Leeper Park PRESERVATION STANDARDS 9.2.4: Alteration of existing or addition of new spatial organizational features will be considered if they do not alter the basic concept of the historic landscape design. 9.2.10. Additions of vegetation materials and features should consider ... screening intrusions... 9.2.14. Intrusive views or new construction may be screened with compatible fencing or plant material. 9.6.14. Any new installation of any type may be considered if the alteration does not alter the basic concept of the historic landscape design. RECOMMENDATION In November, staff approved a temporary 60 -day trial of the scrubber system. Its purpose is to reduce odor billowing up from the sewers near the river. The Waterworks Department has reapplied for permanent installation of the scrubber system. The system is located on the east side of a mechanical systems dock (concrete block pad with piping surrounded by a green chain fence) near Lafayette and Riverside Drive. It is a sizable black cylindrical drum, about 6.5 feet tall and 3.5 feet in diameter. As the system has been temporarily located near the mechanical system dock and is well contained near the dock, it does not significantly alter the spatial organization of the park, if at all, change circulation patterns, or dramatically add to the existing visual intrusion of the mechanical systems upon the views and vistas of the park and the St. Joseph River. Presently, there are herbaceous shrubs growing in front of the concrete block pad to obscure its functional form. The standards recommend that intrusions should be screened with compatible plant material. Perhaps, this recommendation could be implemented for the scrubber system as well. Staff finds that the scrubber system is acceptable with due consideration of the Leeper Park Landscape Guidelines. Staff recommends approval of Application No. 2004-1230, the permanent installation of the scrubber/ odor control system, and encourages the planting of a few screening shrubs around the odor control cylinder.