12-08-03 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING DECEMBER 8, 2003 summer residents had to close their doors because when Hurwich dumped, the dust flow came right over into the neighborhood and they did not get any kind of respect. Ms. Sue Hockman, 1402 West Washington Street, South Bend, Indiana, stated that she resides a block or two (2) from the factory. She stated that everyone in the neighborhood is against this zoning because if Hurwich gets this zoning they do not know how many other factories will want the higher zoning. Ms. Hockman stated that Mr. Zappia mentioned a neighborhood meeting at which Hurwich received favorable response but did not mention another meeting that was held in which no one or very few people said yes. Ms. Hockman informed the Council that she previously lived on Jefferson Street and later acquired a new house on Washington Street. She has also worked on the West Washington Chapin Renovation Board and they have been dedicated to get this neighborhood to where it is now. The Board had a wish list and things were accomplished. They are now down to the last of the list and a factory that wants to have a higher level of industrial zoning will cause everything they have worked for to go down the tube. Ms. Hockman stated that she understands the position of Hurwich is to make more money but she is from the neighborhood and she is willing to work this out with Hurwich that maybe all of them can be happy and would work to help Mr. Morris get his factory like he wants it but possibly someplace else. Mr. Curtis Owens, 1126 North Olive Street, South Bend, Indiana, informed the Council that he grew up at 1636 Florence Street and he remembers Hurwich Iron because a lot of times people could not get jobs. Mr. Zappia made statements that jobs would be available for the youth. However, Mr. Owens stated that he does not trust Hurwich because they did not do much to provide employment in the 1960's. He further stated that the crushing of the concrete will cause dust. Mr. Owens informed the Council that a lot of money has been spent to improve the area and this action would take the neighborhood backwards when they should be going forward. He questioned why they couldn't take these operations out of the neighborhood because there will also be a smell. If this is allowed and Hurwich starts making money then they will want to try to do something else. Mr. Owens stated that residents will start moving out of the neighborhood and they will be back where they were. Reverend Cary Batteast, 101 Adams Street, South Bend, Indiana, advised that he is an Associate Minister at the Greater St. John Church, which is across the street from Hurwich and Frankie's Barbeque. Rev. Batteast stated that they respect Hurwich Iron for being in their community for many years. In response to Mr. Zappia's reference to Batteast Construction, Rev. Batteast stated that Batteast Construction owns property on Washington Street which they use only for storage. Reverend Batteast noted that they rent storage from Batteast Real Estate which put up a building on West Washington and there is no traffic from them. The difference between Batteast Construction using property to restore stuff on Washington and Hurwich Iron, is that Batteast Construction has always invested in the community and has always employed residents from the west side of South Bend. Ritschard Brothers also owns property on West Washington Street and they have trucks every once in a while coming in but Ritschard Brothers has invested in their churches and their community on the west side of South Bend. Rev. Batteast stated that Hurwich Iron has never helped churches across the street from them and there are five (5) in that immediate area. Truck and train traffic does not smell. Truck and train traffic does not stir up dust that Hurwich puts out from crushing concrete. Rev. Batteast concluded by stating that he would not like Hurwich to crush concrete across the street from where he buys food and from where he worships. Concrete is crushed on Lathrop and Bendix in a hole that is eighty (80) feet deep but citizens still have to drive through dust. Mr. Tom Broden, 201 West North Shore Drive, South Bend, Indiana, informed the Council that he is a member of St. Augustine Parish located directly across the street from the property in question. He stated that St. Augustine and all of the other churches and institutions in the area have for the last thirty -five (35) years been engaged in very difficult efforts to upgrade this part ofthe community. He is opposing this rezoning because he sees a step backwards in terms of the ideal that the people in the neighborhood have for their residential area. All of the negative effects that have been stated are important but also a very important negative aspect of the zoning will be the psychological or reputation that would be derived from a sudden change in the approach in this neighborhood. The -11-