03-25-02 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING MARCH 25, 2002 the western portion of the site, which is approximately two hundred twenty feet (220) east and west, would contain two (2) five thousand (5,000) square foot office structures. The east portion of the site shows two (2) buildings. The buildings will contain approximately twenty six - thousand five hundred (26,500) square feet apiece. The parking areas would be located to the south side of the building, which is the north side of Douglas Road. Parking for the office development will be located on the east side of the buildings away from the "R" Residential property to the west. Mr. Danch further noted that they will be meeting the five (5) requirements that the Area Plan Commission has requested on the site plan development. Those particular requirements are to reduce the number of curb cuts from four (4) to two (2) so there are only two (2) access points onto Douglas Road. They will also be reducing the number of parking spaces down to the number required by the zoning ordinance for the City of South Bend. On the preliminary site plan they had an additional fifty -one (5 1) spaces but have no problems reducing that number to meet the requirements based on the usage of those two (2) buildings. The third aspect is in regards to where the two (2) office buildings are going to be located on the west portion of the site that will be going to the "O" Office category. Those will move farther to the east to allow for a larger buffer and landscape area along the western portion of the site. They will also add additional street trees along with a detailed landscape plan and with the removal of the fifty -one (5 1) parking spaces they will also be providing more interior landscaping with landscape islands. Along the north portion of the site, which abuts to the residential area in the County, they will provide an evergreen screening along that entire line as requested by Area Plan. Mr. Danch indicated that he has supplied the Council with a photo which is representative of the type of building that will be built on the site which shows that it will have a brick facade. In regards to drainage, they will meet all the City drainage requirements for on site drainage. In regards to traffic, because of the reduction of openings down to two (2), they will be adding a deceleration/acceleration lane on the north side of Douglas Road and a passing blister on the south side due to the amount of traffic that uses this portion of Douglas Road. They will also hook up to municipal sewer and water which are available. At the present time an existing sanitary sewer line from the City of Mishawaka which is at the southeast corner of the parcel will mostly likely be extended to the site. There already is an existing water line for the City of Mishawaka which runs the entire length of Douglas Road. These are the utilities that they will most likely hook up to. This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. The following individual spoke in favor of the bill: Mr. Larry Magliozzi, Assistant Director, Division of Community Development, 12th Floor, County - City Building, South Bend, Indiana, advised that they support and encourage passage ofthis bill with the recommendations advanced by the Area Plan Commission. It is their opinion that these additional development standards would improve the overall aspect of this development. He noted that this development occupies a key site on an increasing busy traffic corridor on what will be a permanent eastern gateway into the City of South Bend. There was no one else present wishing to speak in favor of this bill and there was no one present wishing to speak in opposition to this bill. Councilmember Varner indicated that because of the residential area further to the north it was suggested this afternoon that there would be additional screening as well. Mr. Danch advised that in the final site plan procedure with the Area Plan Commission they will provide a detailed landscape plan that will reflect that improvement. Therefore, Councilmember Coleman made a motion that substitute Bill No. 12 -02 go to the full Council with a favorable recommendation and be set for third reading on April 8, 2002. Councilmember Varner seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of seven (7) ayes. -3-