04-14-03 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING APRIL 14, 2003 committee held a Hearing on this bill this afternoon and sends it to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. Mr. Jeff Myers, Staff Member, Area Plan Commission, 1805 Hickory Road, South Bend, Indiana, presented the report from the Commission. Mr. Myers advised that the petitioner is requesting a zone change from `B" Residential, "A" Height and Area to "PHC" Professional/Health Care District to allow permitted uses in the "PHC" Professional /Health Care District. The property contains a vacant hospital building and its associated buildings. Located to the north and west are single family homes zoned "A" Residential, "A" Height and Area; located to the south is a church zoned "A" Residential, "A" Height and Area, and multi - family buildings zoned `B" Residential, `B" Height and Area; and located to the east is a multi - family complex zoned "A" Residential, "A" Height and Area. A check of the Agency maps indicates that no public wells, wetlands, flood or environmental hazard areas are present. A site plan is not required for rezonings initiated by the Area Plan Commission. Mr. Myers further advised that the Area Plan Commission, at its Public Hearing held on March 18, 2003, sent this petition to the Council with a favorable recommendation with the understanding that there be a twenty five foot (25') setback with screening from Marshall Street with the exception of any existing building in that twenty -five feet (25'); that there be a twenty -five (25') foot setback with screening from the east property line; that access from Holiday Drive be closed; and, that any new buildings will not be over two (2) stories in height. Mr. Myers informed the Council that the developer is present to answer any questions even though this is an Area Plan Commission initiated petition and not subject to a site plan. Mr. Victor Saavedra, 1005 South Lafayette Boulevard, South Bend, Indiana, representing Ziolkowski Construction addressed the Council and advised that also present were Mr. Dan Harshman, CEO of Logan Center and Mr. Bill Hambling, Executive Vice - President of Ziolkowski Construction. Mr. Saavedra stated that they are presenting today a site plan of the existing site which is located along Jefferson Boulevard and is the existing site for St. Mary's Hospital. Mr. Saavedra utilized a drawing of the site which showed the twenty -five foot (25') setbacks which are located along the north, west and east sides of the site. He noted that within that twenty -five foot (25') setback they are required and will comply with landscape berming and screening to protect the neighborhood and buffer the zone between the residential area and the existing building. The existing sixty thousand (60,000) square foot building will be torn down and replaced with an approximate twenty -five thousand (25,000) square foot new building with a maximum of two (2) stories per the Council's recommendation. All city ordinances pertaining to the site will be followed. Mr. Saavedra noted that this is a preliminary site plan and they are still in the process of development and putting together their schematic drawings but the building will be approximately that size. He noted that the residents were extremely excited that the City was so involved in looking out for their best interests and they did feel like this was a community effort and that is to the Council's credit. This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard.