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CITY OF SOUTH BEND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING – February 13, 2025 <br /> <br />4 <br /> <br />Commissioner Wax asked if the medians would cause too many traffic <br />backups and Mr. Corcoran stated that the volume of traffic in this <br />section would flow smoothly and the medians are designed for traffic <br />calming. Vice President Relos asked about the left turn lanes heading <br />East and Mr. Corcoran stated that there will be space in the center for <br />vehicles to safely wait to turn. Joseph Molnar, Assistant Director of <br />Growth and Opportunity, stated that this is much needed in this busy <br />area with the farmers market and local businesses and is in favor of <br />this project. <br /> <br />Rachel Tomas Morgan, Councilwoman agrees that traffic calming <br />efforts are needed in this area. President Warner explained that two (2) <br />years ago he attended a planning meeting which forty (40) residents <br />and neighboring businesses and expressed the need to slow the traffic <br />down in this walkable market district and thanked staff for their work. <br />Vice President Relos is also in favor of the project. Commissioner Wax <br />expressed concerns and feels that it could be done in a way that is <br />most efficient to minimize disruption to the remaining two lanes of <br />traffic and not make it too difficult to navigate from one part of the city <br />to the next and still make it safe. Willow Weatherall is also in favor of <br />the project. Frank Niemiec asked about this interfering with a city <br />trolley/rail project and Caleb Bauer, Executive Director of Community <br />Investment stated that the Administration does not support this idea <br />and believes it is extremely cost prohibitive at this time. <br /> <br />Upon a motion by David Relos for approval, seconded by Troy Warner, <br />the motion carried unanimously; the Commission approved the Budget <br />Request as presented on February 13, 2025. <br /> <br />2. Budget Request (Potawatomi Park, Phase I) <br /> <br />Tim Corcoran, Chief Planner for Community Investment, presented a <br />budget request for $4.5 million to add pedestrian safety elements, <br />traffic calming and additional parking on both Greenlawn Ave. and Wall <br />St. to accommodate the increasing popularity of the Potawatomi Park <br />and Zoo as well as demolition of the pool. Mr. Corcoran stated that we <br />would be adding two (2) raised crossings that line up with the <br />sidewalks on Southwood and Hoover Ave. for a better experience for <br />people crossing the street. There will also be the installation of a <br />neighborhood traffic circle on Wall St. so that drivers can find parking <br />without turning around in driveways. This will include stop controls, <br />mountable curbs for buses and allows for vehicular circulation. Mr. <br />Corcoran stated that on Wall St., there will be traffic calming measures <br />which include two (2) crosswalks and 1-2 raised intersections as well <br />as 90-degree parking on the South side. There will also be a <br />pedestrian crossing on Ironwood Dr. at Wall St. with a central