01-12-09 Common Council Meeting Agenda & Packet

Home Browse Search

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND INTENT This petition, pertaining to a property zoned LI (Light Industrial), seeks a rezoning to MCJ (Mixed Use). It is made in concert with a petition to the Board of Zoning Appeals, seeking a special exception for use as a "group residence." It seeks a rezoning so as to allow Our Lady of the Road, anon-profit charity serving homeless people in downtown South Bend, to provide emergency shelter in relation to the program known as "weather amnesty" whereby people with nowhere to stay are housed overnight by social agencies and ministries. This statement is divided into three parts: (1) a description of the property itself; (2) a more detailed statement of purpose and intent; (3) an explanation as to how this proposed re-zoning is consistent the general character of this district; and (4) an explanation as to how this proposed rezoning is consistent with the land-uses of this area. 1. The property in question is located at 744 South Main Street in South Bend; Indiana. The building area is 12,320 square feet situated on .97 acres, with frontage on South Main Street, just to the south of the downtown area in South Bend. The building consists of (1) a large front area with a kitchen, chairs, tables, and couches; (2) behind this, another large area for men's and women's restroom, three showers, three washers and driers, and clothes racks; (3) behind this, another large area for supplies, storage, and a small office; (4) behind this, a smaller area for use as storage; (5) adjacent to this, a warehouse area for more storage of larger items; and (6) an upstairs area which is vacant. A large parking lot (18,900 square feet) is located to the north of the building, and a side yard is located to the south of the building. 2. As regards the purpose and intent, Our Lady of the Road has been asked by several social agencies and ministries to assist in providing overnight housing to homeless people. People will be welcomed in the evening and depart early the next morning. They will be received in the front area of Our Lady of the Road (# 1, above), use the bathrooms and showers (# 2), and sleep on twin beds in the area adjacent to the office and supply room (# 3). At least two staff members and/or volunteers of Our Lady of the Road will stay over on these nights as well. This service will be provided in conjunction with the Center for the Homeless, Hope Ministries, the YWCA, Life Treatment Center, and other agencies operating as part of the Continuum for Care. The number of people housed for weather amnesty will be about ten, the same number of people not being taken in by Hope Ministries due to changes in their facilities. This will therefore not increase the overall number of people receiving overnight weather-amnesty but allow it to remain the same. Our Lady of the Road will begin functioning as the final option for overnight housing, although this order could change in response to changes regarding other social agencies and the overall situation of homelessness in South Bend. 3. As regards the consistency of this purpose and intent in relation to the character of the district in which it is located, the purpose and intent is entirely consistent with this district. Several properties in the immediate area are used for purposes similar to the