12-08-03 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING DECEMBER 8, 2003 change from all of the efforts to upgrade the location as a residential and neighborhood area would signal to some that this heavy industrial usage is a specter that would inhibit investment and would be a question in the mind of a potential renter or a potential home builder and in the long run could undermine all of the efforts of many people starting at least thirty five (3 5) years ago if not longer. Ms. Vivian Salle, 16194 Baywood Lane, Granger, Indiana, stated that the Greater St. John Missionary Baptist Church is located across the street from Hurwich Iron and on behalf of the church membership of more than five hundred (500) families, she is registering a formal protest against the proposal. Ms. Salle informed the Council that this church has been in the area since 1922 and recently invested more than $1 million dollars in renovation and new building construction. Additionally, they have plans for further improvement and new construction and will invest at least another five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00) to $1 million dollars in the next few years. It is their belief that the Hurwich plans will diminish the property values in this area as well as negatively affect the health of their members and the residents by the processing of raw wood and storage at the plant. Ms. Salle noted that the representatives from Hurwich Iron have done an excellent job in highlighting some of the existing environmental and aesthetic challenges that the neighborhood contends with on a daily basis and they do not need to further aggravate and add to those challenges. In conclusion, Ms. Salle informed the Council that the Greater St. John Missionary Baptist Church asks that the Council give this rezoning request an unfavorable recommendation. Mr. Howard Buchanan, 1346 O'Brien Street, South Bend, Indiana, Member, Greater St. John Church, stated that the operations being performed by Hurwich at this time seem to be okay but now they want to do other things that he believes should receive an unfavorable recommendation. He stated that Hurwich has advised that they will invest $1 million dollars to be able to crush and sell concrete and he believes that they should invest somewhere else in the City of South Bend and not at this location. In regards to selling materials for landscaping, Mr. Buchanan stated that the City of South Bend has a mulching plant that gives away free mulch and it would be disadvantageous to have someone else producing this material when it is already being produced. He reiterated the comments of Ms. Salle that the Greater St. John Church is totally against this Petition. He also reiterated that the church has made quite an investment as have other churches in the area. Mr. Buchanan stated that it would be different if Hurwich needed the extra money but if they can invest $1 million dollars in something they could invest it somewhere else. Ms. Charlotte Huddleston, 211 South Michigan Street, South Bend, Indiana, stated that she is a member of St. Augustine's Church which has been in the community for the past seventy five (75) years and has a rich heritage. She noted that the church has spent a lot of money for renovations and she is concerned about the fallout from the dust on their church and other churches. Ms. Huddleston informed the Council that she is not in favor of this request as Hurwich has not invested in the community and she asked that the Council consider not giving this request a favorable vote. There was no one else present wishing to speak in opposition to this bill. In rebuttal, Mr. Zappia stated that Hurwich would sell mulch and not compost. As it relates to the crushing operation, he stated that Hurwich has been doing crushing at the existing site for their personal use so nothing really changes. Mr. Zappia noted that when Mrs. Hockman purchased her home there was heavy industrial "D" and `B" zoning to the north, south, east and west of her. He stated that it is correct that there are trucks running up and down that area one truck after another. Mr. Zappia informed the Council that he spent forty -five (45) minutes in the area observing traffic and counted seventeen (17) trucks. He asked what would happen to this area if these businesses were eliminated along with the jobs they provide. He stated that everything that Hurwich is asking to do they do right now but they want to be able to recycle the product and there are sufficient city and state safeguards to protect the community. With regards to the comments and concerns from Frankie's Barbeque, Mr. Zappia stated that they have been there for thirty (30) years and they have another fifty -three (53) years to catch up with Hurwich. -12-