10-08-90 Zoning & Vacation - Laserfiche WebLink

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• the Petitioner Mr. Charles Lord owns a company and is willing to bring his company from Michigan to South Bend. He noted that there are seventeen (17) full-time employees currently and that he has been looking for a proper area for the past two to three years. Mr. Lord noted that there is adequate parking with twenty-one spaces being available plus additional space for eight to ten parking spaces in the future. He noted that his operation does have metal scrap shavings however they are retained inside due to the value. His company has several contracts which are military in nature and he stated that he would like to have a top quality building to house his machinery and to upgrade and improve his overall business image by an improved building location. He noted that the Area Plan Staff voiced concern that this would be an intrusion of a manufacturing use into a C Commercial area. Mr. Bob Sante of the Area Plan Staff stated that the proposed rezoning is located next to the Arbor Gate Inn. In his opinion he considers this to be a spot zoning since it is surrounded by C Commercial operations. John Coleman, the Council Representative on the Area Plan Commission, stated that there was no one to remonstrate at the Area Plan meeting. He noted however that he voted against the proposed rezoning since he is concerned about what will happen if the rezoning is approved ten years down the road. Council Member Niezgodski, the District Councilman, noted that he visited the location proposed to be rezoned and also visited Mr. Lord's current operation. He stated that it is high technology and that there are no noise problems in existence. He noted that the building would prohibit it from being used for other D Light Industrial uses. He stated that in his opinion he believes that Mr. Lord's operation would be a proper one for the property in question. In response to a question raised by Council Member Luecke, Mr. Lord noted that the additional space would be used for testing, assembling, and related operations. Council Member Slavinskas stated that he respects the opinion of the Area Plan Staff as well as the recommendation of the Area Plan Commission. He noted however that with automation, typically there are fewer employees and that our City has a long history of machine and tool die workers in the area. He stated that he does not see the proposed use as being incompatible with the surrounding uses and that perhaps the City Code Book for the types of uses allowed should be carefully reviewed. He noted that if there were less than five employees it would be a proper location under our current regulations. -2-