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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-28-17 Zoning and Annexation ��SpUTEB�y�10 r2. U C � PEACE a � 1865 OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK KAREEMAH FOWLER,CITY CLERK ZONING&ANNEXATION AUGUST 28, 2017 5:34 P.M. Committee Members Present: Oliver Davis, John Voorde, Jo M. Broden Committee Members Absent: Gavin Ferlic Other Council Present: Regina Williams-Preston, Karen White, Dr. David Varner, Tim Scott, Randy Kelly Other Council Absent: None Others Present: Kareemah Fowler, Graham Sparks, Bob Palmer Presenters: James Mueller, Michael Divita, Larry Magliozzi, Chuck Bulot Agenda: Zoning Ordinance Update Briefing-Tim Corcoran, Director of Planning Transfer of ABZA &Zoning Administration from the Building Department to APC- Larry Magliozzi, Executive Director of the Area Plan Commission(APC) Committee Chair Oliver Davis called to order the Zoning and Annexation Committee meeting at 5:34 p.m. He introduced members of the Committee and proceeded to give the floor to the presenters. Zoning Ordinance Update Briefing- Tim Corcoran, Director of Planning James Mueller, Executive Director of Community Investment with offices on the 14th floor of the County-City Building, stated, We hope to have about six (6) quick fixes. These are things that we commonly bring before the Council and the issue is with the Ordinance and not with what the community requests. Second, we are preparing for the larger two (2)year process of relooking at the Ordinance as a whole. We will commence a stress-test of the Ordinance with outside consulting to find the bottleneck of the Ordinance. 455 County-City Building•227 W.Jefferson Boulevard•South Bend,Indiana 46601 Phone 574-235-9221 •Fax 574-235-9173•TDD 574-235-5567•www.SouthBend[N.gov JENNIFER M.COFFMAN ALKEYNA M.ALDRIDGE JOSEPH MOLNAR CHIEF DEPUTY/DIRECTOR OF DEPUTY/DIRECTOR OF POLICY ORDINANCE VIOLATION CLERK OPERATIONS Michael Divita, Planner with the Department of Community Investment with offices on the 14th floor of the County-City Building, stated, The City is looking to have some Zoning Ordinance text amendments by the end of the year. This will reduce the number of special exceptions and variance requests that we see. These are items from the staff perspective as well as the neighbor perspective. There have been no objections. Staffs from the Building Department, the Area Plan Commission and Community Investment have identified some potential amendments. There will be six(6) Ordinances in two (2) sets across the October and November timeframe. They will go before Area Plan before they come to Council. Among the first set there are some changes to permitted uses. This accounts for about twenty percent (20%) of the zoning requests we see and generally does not create any land use issue. The second ordinance would address some common variance requests we see. The third would address some engineering standards and would best be handled by our Department of Public Works. The second set would include changes to our Mixed-Use Zoning District making development easier in those districts. If all these items are approved and instituted, we would see about half of the items that are heard would not have to be heard. This is our major task for the end of the year. We hope this makes the whole process easier for all involved in the process including developers,residents, and all of our staffs. Committee Chair Davis asked, Is this the first time a stress test will be done? Mr. Divita confirmed, Yes, it is the first time. It is essentially an audit of our current ordinance to identify any barriers. Councilmember Karen White stated, It would be helpful to know the exact number of which exceptions and variances have come before Council. Committeemember Jo M. Broden stated, Some of us have the additional benefits of sitting in the meetings for these discussions. So you said the first set will be heard at the September 15 Area Plan Commission meeting? Mr. Divita confirmed, Yes,that is correct. Committeemember Broden continued, This is only my second time seeing this information. I would like more detail as soon as possible. We also need more data. I need confidence in the reasons for what we are doing. Committee Chair Davis stated, I would also like a stress test for the neighbors because we cannot just be looking at this through the developer's standpoint. Sue Kessim, 4022 Kennedy Drive, stated, I find it very disturbing the neighbors have been run over time and time again in favor of business. They have been zoned over. Over fifty percent (50%) of houses are now rentals. I don't think you're looking at the bigger picture. It has to be citizens first and there is a trend of running over the average citizen. Transfer of ABZA & Zoning Administration from the Building Department to APC-Larry Magliozzi, Executive Director of the Area Plan Commission (APC) Larry Magliozzi, Executive Director of the Area Plan Commission with offices on the 111'floor of the County-City Building, stated, This packet was crafted mainly for the County Council's 2 meeting so there is a lot of detail in it. The focus is the first page which is the summary. The prime goal is to enhance planning services. We want to get all the planning services under one (1)umbrella. We are probably one (1) of the only communities in the State that does it the way we do it. It's not bad but it is definitely not as efficient as it could be. We hope to get all the planning functions under one (1) department and we feel the Area Plan Commission could absorb two (2) responsibilities. The first being the administration of the Area Board of Zoning Appeals and the second transferring the Zoning Administration from the Building Department to the Area Plan Commission. The impact is denoted on the two (2) spreadsheets provided (available in the Office of the City Clerk). This makes it much more efficient to the petitioner. A lot of the administrative functions come to APC as well. We would propose some fee increases with this as well. They are not substantial but are a net-wash from the total they would be paying anyway. This would also create a single point of contact for any questions the petitioner may have. Councilmember Tim Scott asked, Part of Building has to come before Council for budget purposes and can we talk about it then? Chuck Bulot, Building Commissioner for the Building Department with offices on 125 S. Lafayette Boulevard, confirmed, Yes, that is correct. Councilmember Scott then asked, And how many inspectors does the Building Department have? Mr. Bulot replied, I have seven (7) inspectors currently. We are trying to get one (1)more for 2018. With no other business, Committee Chair Davis adjourned the Zoning and Annexation Committee meeting at 5:58 p.m. Re ittme e Chair 3