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REGULAR MEETING JULY 22, 2013
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<br />The following individuals spoke in opposition:
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<br />Constance Green, 3217 Dunham, South Bend, Indiana, President, Far Westside Neighborhood
<br />Assoc.
<br />Florene Jennings, 110 S. Lake, South Bend, Indiana
<br />Charlotte Bridges, 222 S. Dundee, South Bend, Indiana
<br />Billie Cannady, 206 N. Illinois, South Bend, Indiana
<br />Marvin Crayton, 305 S. Lake, South Bend, Indiana
<br />Wendel Johnson, 305 S. Falcon, South Bend, Indiana
<br />Dennis Blount, 302 S. Chicago, South Bend, Indiana
<br />Pastor Calvin Macon, New Generation Christian Ministries, 51575 Clubhouse Drive, South
<br />Bend, Indiana
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<br />Michael Divita, Planner, Community Investment Department, 14 Floor County-City Bldg., 227
<br />W. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, Indiana, as the Council is aware the City is in the process of
<br />creating a new Western Avenue Corridor plan to replace the existing one that provides the basis
<br />for planning decisions. The new plan would provide more detailed guidance on preferred land
<br />uses. The plan would also include market based business development strategies to assist in the
<br />revitalization of areas such as this that have seen moderate levels of investment. On the matter
<br />before us tonight we appreciate the petitioner’s service to the neighborhood and the willingness
<br />to meet with Community Investment, hear the neighborhoods concerns and make alterations to
<br />their plans. We would welcome investment here to the extent that it is a benefit to the
<br />neighborhood and to the city. We would certainly not object to a well-managed store here. We
<br />would support an expanded retail presence that offers a wider range of goods to residents. The
<br />city favors plan elements such as the enhancement of the store, landscaping, lighting, fencing,
<br />and the creation of a parking lot that moves the vehicle parking off of the Kenmore Street tree
<br />lawn and the investment that comes along with these improvements. However, the City hesitates
<br />to endorse a Special Exception and create another new auto related use here and because of its
<br />characteristics would have a negative effect on the quality of life and property values for
<br />neighboring residents and one that may serve to discourage future investment in surrounding
<br />properties.
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<br />In Rebuttal, Mr. Danch: Let me bring up a couple things that the Council sees that there are
<br />people that are obviously in favor of this petition and there are also some people that are against
<br />the petition. I think what Council heard tonight was a lot of the problems with this particular
<br />neighborhood. What we are asking Council to be able to do is bring this property up and add
<br />500-600 hundred thousand dollar’s worth of improvements here. I think what you heard was that
<br />there is also congestion at some of the other stations which forces people to go to other areas. I
<br />think being allowed to put two gas pumps and that’s all we are talking about at this particular
<br />location a new facility, this would be a Marathon facility run type and I think the way we have
<br />done it with the commitments with the lighting with the security with what we have presented to
<br />Council that we have hopefully addressed a lot of the concerns that were brought up tonight. But
<br />I think that the Council can see that there are a lot of neighbors that use this facility they would
<br />like to see Ricky expand, they would like to see it brought up and I think that is going to
<br />continue to be done but what we would ask Council to do is approve the zoning and the gas
<br />pumps. If you have any questions, I would be happy to answer them.
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<br />Councilmember Scott: You know we started this in November it’s been a long road on it. I
<br />think it’s good, there is a lot of due diligence that’s being done here a lot of questions being
<br />asked. Councilmembers that asked for the petitioner to meet with residents, meet with the
<br />neighborhood associations, I think that’s all well and good. It’s really difficult because we want
<br />businesses to expanding; we definitely want businesses expanding on the Westside. However,
<br />there have just been too many flags for me. I’ve seen miscommunication where a letter to set up
<br />a meeting with the neighborhood association back in November it was given to a person that
<br />didn’t make it there and meetings never happened. I’ve been in Rick’s Mart and concerned with
<br />not only paraphernalia or anything else that is kind of deemed illegal, sportswear that might not
<br />be licensed or might be licensed who knows, single cigarettes. In my business I work in the
<br />petroleum, I know what gas stations are and gas pumps are there, they are at a lost or just break
<br />even. The whole idea is to drive business into the stores to buy the soda pop, the candy, the
<br />whatever. You know I don’t think the petitioner is not savvy in his business, obviously he is,
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