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Common Council <br />South Bend 4` <br />NEWS RELEASE <br />Date: Thursday, March 27, 2014, 11 a. <br />From: 15` District Council Member Timc�3t "` , ontact: 538 -1936 <br />Improved Local Zoning Procedures to be Implemented by the <br />Zoning & Annexation Committee By Utilizing Departmental Reports <br />Effective immediately, as Chairman of the Council's Zoning and Annexation Committee, I will <br />ask for departmental reports from the City of South Bend's Legal Department, Code <br />Enforcement Department, Building Department and Police Department of any violations, history <br />or concerns with any properties and /or property owners regarding quality of life issues. That data <br />will be used to supplement all of the information received pursuant to required statutory and <br />ordinance provisions, which establish the zoning and special exception criteria when such <br />requests are made to the Common Council. <br />I believe that the additional data is crucial for myself and my Council colleagues in order to <br />make the best decision on any proposed zoning use change coming before this Council and for <br />the residents of the City of South Bend. <br />The request for this information will be straight forward and reporting back will be simple. It can <br />be in the form of an email and as concise as an email back. If there are issues, a summary <br />statement backing each department's claim will be sufficient. I will either read all reports into <br />the record during committee meetings or have them added as part of the council packet regarding <br />the respected bill or resolution before us. In this way, there will be greater accountability and <br />transparency. <br />As noted in the Indiana Code, our zoning laws are to "encourage and improve the health, safety, <br />convenience, and welfare of citizens and to plan for the future development of communities ", <br />which also include the responsibility to see that: <br />"...residential areas provide healthful surroundings for family life ... and that the growth <br />of the community is commensurate with and promotive of the efficient and economical <br />use of public funds..." <br />The additional information is aimed to assist both the Zoning and Annexation Committee and all <br />Council Members in making the most informative land use and planning decisions possible. <br />0 <br />