Special Exception - 744 South Main Street

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4 Fourth, as regards one of the elements of the City Plan, namely, the "Vision of South Bend in 2025" that was adopted by the Common Council on May 10, 2004 as part of the basis for the City Plan, the proposed use is compatible with this vision, in many respects. The vision calls for "diverse housing choices," and highlights "achievements of ethnic and racial harmony, volunteerism, philanthropy, and just and equal access to economic and social opportunities." The proposed use enables an important part of the population of South Bend, namely, homeless people, to pursue housing choices. There is story after story of guests at Our Lady of the Road who use its services and then have been able to move into their own homes. Moreover, people of diverse racial and ethnic groups staying together under the same roof, albeit on an intermittent basis, can promote harmony. In addition, the proposed use will promote volunteerism, inasmuch as Our Lady of the Road will use volunteers to assist in weather amnesty hospitality. Also, Our Lady of the Road receives no formal funding from the Church, nor from federal, state, or local governments. It relies on personal donations. In this way philanthropy is promoted. Finally, the proposed use will foster the just and equal access to economic and social opportunities, inasmuch as it enhances such access for a segment of the population who are often deprived of such access owing to purposeful stereotyping and popular prejudice, namely, the segment of the population of our City who are homeless. In sum, the proposed special exception for the property at 744 South Main Street in the City of South Bend for use as a group residence meets all four standards set forth as principles for determining the worthiness of a petition for a special exception.