11-11-02 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 11, 2002 Mr. Robert Sante, Executive Director, Area Plan Commission of St. Joseph County, 1 lth Floor County -City Building, South Bend, Indiana, made the presentation for this Resolution. Mr. Sante asked the Council to adopt this Resolution which in turn adopts the Comprehensive Plan for South Bend and St. Joseph County. He stated that the Comprehensive Plan is comprehensive in nature in that it includes basically all of the physical planning features such as land use, transportation and community facilities. It is also comprehensive in that it includes all of the areas of jurisdiction that the Area Plan Commission serves which includes the City of South Bend, the unincorporated part of St. Joseph County, North Liberty, New Carlisle, Roseland, Osceola and Lakeville. The process for the plan is a very inclusive process, a four (4) year process, starting out with public forums to get input from the public in terms of what kinds of things they like about the area and what kinds of things they do not like as well as their vision for the future. Mr. Sante noted that they worked with developers and builders and various city and county agencies as well as with some of the bigger land use users such as the hospitals and the universities. This plan is a consensus plan. This is one of the few comprehensive plans in the state which includes a major City and the unincorporated portion of the County. It reflects the views of the suburbs versus the City and is very much a consensus plan. He noted that over the years they were able to bring everyone to the table and get that consensus and get a vision for the entire community rather than just portions of it. The plan is general in nature as comprehensive plans basically are and it identifies the problem that exists with the physical part of the community and identifies possible solutions. It does not go into the various social problems and solutions but deals basically with the physical community. The Comprehensive Plan provides the framework and a starting point for more detailed plans such as the current City Plan being worked on by the Department of Community and Economic Development. Once the plan is established, the next step is to move into tools to implement the plan and in this case that will include a new zoning ordinance for the City of South Bend. The new zoning ordinance will be formulated based on the principles of the Comprehensive Plan. Following that, there will also be a new subdivision ordinance or an ordinance update for both the City Council and the towns that they service. Mr. Sante informed the Council that Mr. Dave Wentzel, Vice - President, HNTB Incorporated of Indianapolis was also present this evening. Mr. Wentzel has been the consultant on this planning effort for the last four (4) years and walked the Council through how the plan was formulated and some of the basic principles that are included in the plan. Mr. Dave Wentzel, HNTB Corporation, informed the Council that the Comprehensive Plan is a broad -based document that establishes a vision. The Plan is the foundation for land use decision making. It is a guideline to try to bring a consensus. Similarly, it is not a solution for all issues but mostly deals with physical and economic issues. At this time, Mr. Wentzel made a twenty -six (26) minute power point presentation to the Council walking them through the process that was taken and some of the findings and recommendations in the Plan. A Public Hearing was held on the Resolution at this time. The following individual spoke in favor of the Resolution: Mr. Steve Cooreman, Cooreman Real Estate Group, 24545 Brick Road, South Bend, Indiana, thanked Mr. Wentzel for his presentation. He stated that there has been a need for this Comprehensive Plan for many years and being a developer in St. Joseph County he has a vested interest that the county is properly developed. He further stated that one of the issues that he has experienced as a developer in St. Joseph County is how infrastructures will be financed and how city water and sewer will be extended into those areas. He noted that he is not suggesting that all infrastructures should be paid for by municipal financing but the biggest challenge they face is how to get the city water and sewer out to a project. To run a mile of sewer, with lift station, can easily cost $1 million and significantly higher for municipal water. He advised that the homebuilding industry is one of the largest employers in St. Joseph County and smart growth is good but people don't necessary want to live on a really small lot. Mr. Cooreman noted that the Home Builders Association of St. Joseph Valley looks forward to working with the plan commission staff. -19-