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OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
KAREEMAH FOWLER, CITY CLERK
ZONING&ANNEXATION MAY 14, 2018 5:00 P.M.
(ORGANIZATIONAL)
Committee Members Present: Oliver Davis, John Voorde, Nanci Yokom (citizen
member)
Committee Members Absent: Gavin Ferlic, Jo M. Broden
Other Council Present: Regina Williams-Preston, Karen White, Dr. David Varner,
Tim Scott, Sharon L. McBride
Other Council Absent: None
Others Present: Kareemah Fowler, Bianca Tirado, Graham Sparks, Bob
Palmer
Agenda: Organizational Meeting
Committee Chair Oliver Davis called to order the 2018 Zoning and Annexation Committee
Organizational meeting at 5:00 p.m.He introduced members of the Committee and proceeded with
the meeting.
Organizational Meeting
Committee Chair Davis stated, I apologize. We have been doing so much zoning that we didn't
have the organizational meeting. This is that. What I would like to hear is what we would like to
get from ourselves, our Attorney, our Clerk, or anybody here that would help us as we look at all
of our zoning issues as we go forward. Is there anything we need ahead of time that would help as
we deal with zoning?A lot of zoning issues are not like what we have to deal with tonight. I would
say seventy-five to eighty percent (75% - 80%) of them are we roll on. But then there are always
those twenty to twenty-five percent(20% -25%)that your emails and phones blow up and people
love and hate you all at the same time. And so, zoning has been a tremendous experience since I
have been on it. You are right in people's homes, their offices and families and everything else
and so everything is going to show. What do you think we need as we move forward?
Councilmember Karen White stated,I would like for us to look at and have information about how
many special exceptions we have had to deal with over the last two (2) years. I want to know the
most common reasons for those. Also, as we look at individuals buying property before they come
to us, is there a better way to deal with those types of issues? I will email you, Councilmember
Davis, my list of suggestions.
INTEGRITY1 SERVICE1 ACCESSIBILITY
JENNIFER M.COFFMAN BIANCA L.TuLADo JOSEPH R MOLNAR
CHIEF DEPUTY/DIRE=R OF OPERATIONS DEPL TY/DIREcfOR OF POLICY ORDINANCE VIOLATION CLERK
EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT
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®CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK
Committee Chair Davis stated, We've had to deal with back and forth zoning issues with both
sides. Whether it has been the Dave Matthews situation last year that took forever to the pocket
neighborhoods. We had that situation with Friendly Confines. You can think about all the tension
and you have neighbors coming up who live next to each other. It is amazing. So again, anything
that is going to help us get through these things because these are not easy things.
Councilmember Tim Scott stated, I thought it was pretty good last year because between
Community Investment and Larry's Area Plan, they were coming down and were pointing out
some of the outdated ordinance. I think we need to continue looking at that and I would also like
them to come to us right now to talk about what could be an issue. I would like an overall report
on what does and doesn't work. What I want to understand is DCI's role in Area Plan. I've asked
that question a lot of times. We need to know their role.Are they working with businesses between
Area Plan to make sure that it is the best fit for the City? What is that partnership and what is that
communication process between Area Plan and DCI?We have a lot of zoning and Area Plan issues
that are just out of date.
Committee Chair Davis stated, The County hasn't updated theirs since 2002 so we are looking at
a sixteen (16) year old plan. A couple years ago we had done a resolution regarding us taking a
look at the plans that are out of date.
Councilmember White stated, All the various plans we have in terms of planning from a
community perspective, a lot of work has not been done. We need an update on that as it pertains
to zoning and we need to have a conversation.
Committee Chair Davis stated, A question raised to me was about the history of being a second
class City and having both the Council and the City Executive being able to make decisions on
zoning. I would like to get that history because I don't know that. For instance, in the County
Commissioners' executive roles,they cannot override the County Council, which I did not know.
The Indianapolis Mayor can't do that. There is good and bad in all of that and so I think people
need to know where the Mayor stands on different issues and all that and there may be some other
rationales regarding that. I don't know but when it was presented to me I told them I would get a
response. So zoning, if we could find out the rationale about that.
Councilmember Regina Williams-Preston stated,As we begin to look at and revisit some of those
plans, we also must overlay all that information we are getting from the Racial Wealth divide and
the Disparity Study. We need to recognize how that impacts our decisions.
Committeemember John Voorde stated, We need to work more closely with Area Plan. I know
they network with other Plan Commissions and maybe something could come of that.
Council Attorney Bob Palmer stated,From what I've seen,we definitely need to update the zoning
ordinance to eliminate a lot of the rezoning and special exception issues. Ultimately it comes to
the Council but it has to go through Area Plan. When Council Members consider these decisions,
they must keep in mind the criteria of which they are mandated by statute to try and keep their
public comments on those criteria.
Committee Chair Davis then opened the floor to members of the public.
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®CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK
Sue Kesim,4022 Kennedy Drive, stated,Where there is a high level of owner-occupied residences,
the crime is very low. When it starts to get rentals over about twenty percent(20%)we start to see
the crime increase. So, and this might be part of the racial divide diversity type of thing,but I think
we have gotten away and have given too many rentals and then that spirals into a higher crime
level. Just a thing to look at and we should be looking at those ratios. Maybe next time a plot is
sold it has to go to an owner-occupied residence. Let's see if we can't back down on some crime
levels. That is just a thought and a perspective.
With no further business, Committee Chair Davis adjourned the 2018 Zoning and Annexation
Commi anizat onal meeting at 5:15 p.m.
espectful y ub ' ed,
r s, Committee Chair
EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT
455 County-City Building 1227 W.Jefferson Bvld I South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221lf574.235.9173 I TM574.235.55671www.southbendin.gov
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