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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2A Special Meeting MinutesAugust 28, 6:30 p.m. Presiding: SOUTH BEND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING ?012 I. Jones, President Ms. Marcia Jones, President Dr. David Varner, Vice President Mr. Greg Downes Mr. Henry Davis 1. ROLL�CALL Memb rs Present: Legal Others Absent: Mr. Donald Alford Sr., Secretary Mr. John Stancati Mr. Lawrence Meteiver, Esq. 321 E. Walter Street South Bend, Indiana .t Staff: Mr. Don Inks, Director Mrs. Cheryl Phipps, Recording Secretary Mr. Bill Schalliol, Economic Development Specialist Mr. David Relos, Economic Development Specialist Mr. Jitin Kain, Economic Development Specialist Mr. Scott Ford, Executive Director, Comm & Econ Dev Mr. Mike Divita, Comm & Econ Dev Mr. Jason Durr, Christopher Burke Engineering Mr. Tim Jackson, DLZ Mr. Mike Johnston, Lawson - Fisher Mr. Mike Meecham, Director, Public Works Mr. Phil St. Clair, Director, Parks & Recreation Mr. Frank Rozmarynowski Ms. Rojene Rozmarynowski Mr. Gerry McKillip Mr. Ron Tuttle Ms. Sandy Zielinski Mr. Matt Holderbaum Ms. Cindy Holderbaum Mr. Jim Chaney Ms. Jackie Chaney Ms. Marge Romwalter Ms. Jennifer Zarembka Ms. Nancy Morgan Mr. Joe Horvath Mr. Andrew Fellman Ms. Maryann Sherman South Benj Redevelopment Commission Regular M eting — August 28, 2012 1. ROLL CALL (CONT.) Present: Mr. Jim Hughes Mr. Gregory Jones Ms. Fran Clark Ms. Georgann DeVolder Mr. Kevin Gonzalez Mr. Matt Borton Ms. Donita Borton Mr. Larry Fisher Mr. Matt Heckman Ms. Mary Moodie Mr. Cedric Moodie Mr. Patrick Bid Ms. Barb Snodgrass Mr. Anthony Snodgrass Ms. Elle Acker Ms. Michelle Swain Mr. Ray Unrub Mr. Ray Hintn Ms. Paddy Hintn Mr. John Schroeder Mr. Larry Ault Ms. Linda Ault Mr. Scott Hany Ms. Pam Hany Mr,. Gary Zapalski Mr. Kristi Hochschild Mr. Todd Miller Ms. Cassandra Gordon Mr. Kevin Fautz Mr. James McKillip Ms. Beth McKillip Mr. Tim Hutching Ms. Trina Detwiler Ms. Sharon Weston Ms. Cris Worm Ms. June Poland Ms. Cindy Korkhouse Ms. Ann Hanover Mr. Matt Hanover Ms. Lisa Balazsi ,2 South Ben Redevelopment Commission Regular M eting — August 28, 2012 1. ROLLS CALL (CONT.) Present: Mr. Kurt Vogler Ms. Polly Talboom Mr. Corey Dill Mr. Matthew Dyer Mr. Jim McNulty Ms. Rose Mary McNulty Ms. Sylvia Long Ms. Nancy Weber Mr. Denny Weber Mr. Bryan Hochschild Ms. Liz Hochschild Mr. Derrick Preston Mr. Dan Jones Mr. Sam Palmer Ms. Karen Palmer Ms. Gertrude Berndt Ms. Anne Berndt Mr. Stanley Doaks Ms. Kyna Doaks Ms. Kathy Hootman Mr. Rock Perri Ms. Teresa Stevens Ms. Terri McSeath Ms. Alice Farrington Ms. Debbie Spith Mr. John Blankert Ms. Lynne Hancock Mr. Brian Bishop Ms. Teresa Stedman Mr. Tim Hartzell Ms. Tatia Baxter Mr. G. W. Smith Ms Ruth Navarreto Mr. Joe Bellina Mr. John Martz Ms. Betty Martz Mr. Rita Rippe Ms. Amy Cartwright Mr. David Hodges Mr. Adam Detwiler 3 South Ben Redevelopment Commission Regular M eting — August 28, 2012 2. NEW BUSINESS A. South Side Development Area (1 Presentation concerning public safety and traffic circulation in the Fellows - Chippewa- Ireland corridor. Ms. Jones noted that the meeting would be run similar to the Commission's public hearings, except that no action will be taken at the end of the hearing. Mr. Schalliol will give the history of the project and planning for it. Mr. Durr will describe the plans that are under consideration. Following the presentations there will be time for public comments, limited to two minutes per person Mr. Schalliol noted that in 2010, the State of Indiana made a decision that it would build several pieces of infrastructure related to improvements on U.S. 31. One piece was to build a bridge from south of the U.S. 31 bypass to north of the bypass, along a Fellows Street corridor that would serve as a local reliever for traffic from south of the bypass to Ireland Road. The state is committed to this project and is currently in the process of building that roadway from south of the bypass to Ireland Road: several properties have been cleared; the right of way and the bridge pier is under construction. As a response to that, the city has engaged in a larger traffic master planning effort to determine how that piece of roadway would affect the immediate Fellows Street neighborhood as well as general circulation on the south side. In 2010, the city hired Christopher Burke Engineering to prepare early concepts for ways the city might deal with an estimated 8,000 additional cars M South Benj Redevelopment Commission Regular M eting — August 28, 2012 2. NEW BUSINESS A. South Side Development Area (1) continued... coming off that new bride into the. intersection of Ireland Road and Fellows Street. In making those determinations, there have been two public meetings (2011 and March 2012) where the city showed alignment Option A. Based on engineering discussions and traffic planning models, Option A seemed to be the best way to move traffic from the Ireland/Fellows intersection over to Michigan Street at its intersection with Chippewa. Option A required 30 total property acquisitions and five partial property acquisitions. Over the last several months, and with much discussion, city staff and engineers from Christopher Burke met with many of the neighbors and explained the acquisition timeline for the project. Then, in response to dissatisfaction with the plan from some residents, Commissioners asked Christopher Burke to propose some alternatives that would not require so much acquisition. Mr. Durr, Christopher Burke Engineering, explained the options they had come up with. A matrix was also distributed at the meeting showing a comparison of the various options. Mr. Durr noted that one option is for the city to do nothing, or nothing at this time. However, the intersection is not adequate to handle the additional traffic and the city feels it would be irresponsible to not prepare for it. Fellows Street between Ireland and Chippewa contains several other substandard intersections at Teri, Barbie and Chippewa. 5 South Ben4 Redevelopment Commission Regular M eting — August 28, 2012 2. NEW OUSINESS A. South Side Development Area (1) continued... The realignment of Fellows Street in Option A takes this opportunity to remedy those substandard, intersections. Doing nothing leaves those intersections unaddressed, Fellows and Chippewavould continue to have on- street parking; arad there would be no property acquisition. Mr. Durr mentioned that most of the attendees have seen Option A several times. Option C is the next step up from the "do nothing" option. Option C simply improves Ireland Road from High Street to Michigan Street, including a significant improvement of the intersection at Fellows. The trouble with the Option C is that is does not prevent any of the additional traffic from using Fellows as its route to Michigan Street, unless access to Fellows is cut off. The drawing of Option C shows the installation of two cul -de -sacs to effectively close access to Fellows from the south. That solution would be inconvenient to neighborhood residents who would have to use; indirect means to get to their destinations. Ji vyould not fix the substandard intersections at Teri, Barbie and Chippewa. Stop signs can be can be installed there, though, if needed. On street parking would remain. Option C would require acquisition of three properties to build the cul -de -sacs. There is already a partial design of the High and Ireland intersection improvement completed. That High and Ireland project can be a stand alone project to provide better access to the Martin's/Menards plaza. 0 South B Regular Redevelopment Commission eting — August 28, 2012 2. NEW 13USINESS A. South Side Development Area (1 continued... Option A does address the primary issue of additional traffic from U.S. 31, corrects the substandard intersections at Teri, Barbie and Chippewa, has the opportunity to fix the drainage problems on Fellows and Chippewa, eliminates on street parking on Chippewa and Fellows, and requires the acquisition. of 30 properties. It is, however, 90% designed. Options B1 through B3 look.very similar. Each of them uses the route of Fellows to a reconfigured Walter through O'Brien property to a reconfigured Barbie. In all three cases, the route is three lanes. The intersection of Barbie and Michigan would require a signal. The slight differences between the B options are at the substandard intersections of Teri, Barbie and Chippewa, intended to improve one or more of those intersections. B2 doesn't address the Teri intersection; however, again, a stop sign could be used to alleviate the issues there. The Option B configurations would reduce Fellows Street traffic, making it more of a residential street. On- street parking would be made available. Chippewa would continue to have on- street parking, though the reduced traffic on Chippewa would minimize the obstruction -of- vision problems the parking causes. Options B allow. the :city to address drainage problems in the'neighhorhood while making improvements to�Fellows and Barbie. It does require the use of park owned property to build the road. B 1 and B2 acquire the acquisition of 12 properties and 7 South Ben Redevelopment Commission Regular M eting — August 28, 2012 2. NEW BUSINESS A. South Side Development Area (1 ) continued... B3 requires the acquisition of 18 properties. Mr. Durr said that Option D is a hybrid of Options A, B, and C. Option D addresses the primary issue of additional traffic from U.S. 31 by enlarging the intersection at Fellows and Ireland and providing an alternative route through park land to Michigan Street. It also reconfigures Fellows to address the problem intersections at Teri, Barbie and Chippewa. By moving the additional traffic to Michigan Street down Walter and through park land, it returns Fellows to a residential two lane road with on street parking. It will solve all the drainage issues existing issues on Fellows and Barbie On- street parking would be available for`,Fellows and for Chippewa. It does require the use of park property and requires the acquisition of 19 properties. The majority of properties are in the north quadrant near Chippewa, Teri and Barbie. Mr. Durr noted that the drawings show what total acquisitions would be needed for the project, but not where partial acquisition would be needed. The drawings will be put on the city's Web page, www.southbendin.gov Mr. Durr offered to take questions from the Commissioners at this time. Mr. Varner said that he prefers a plan that keeps traffic on a commercial street (Ireland) and minimizes the nu,,.; e of property South Benj Redevelopment Commission Regular M eting — August 28, 2012 2. NEW 13USINESS A. South Side Development Area (1) continued... acquisitions. For those reasons, he likes Option C. Mr. Durr responded that Option C certainly eliminates Fellows as apbssible route. It would, however, require significant improvement of the Fellows and Ireland intersection. Ms. Jones then offered the opportunity for the public to be heard. Listed below are the sentiments that were expressed: • Ireland needs a left turn lane at Fellows. • Someone who doesn't live in the neighborhood, but who makes the commute from North Liberty to Michigan Street daily thought round abouts at the critical intersections would take care of all the new traffic problems. • Why three lanes between, Walter and Barbie (Optio413)? The affected resident would lose most of her front yard. Mr. Durr responded the projected traffic volume would require thee lanes, including a dedicated left turn lane. The woman asked if there would be much more traffic then there is at present. Only the few people who live on Walter would be affected by the property acquisition for three lanes. • All options would require this person's property, so she favors none of them. • Concerns about the loss of tax E South Ben Redevelopment Commission Regular M eting — August 28, 2012 2. NEW 13USINESS A. South Side Development Area (1) continued... revenue from acquired properties as well as devalued property for those remaining on the high volume Fellows. Thinks Option C is best, keeping the high volume traffic on commercial Ireland. Several others applauded this sentiment. • Does not like the "do nothing" option, but is afraid for;the safety of children in a neighborhood with higher traffic volume. Others clapped in agreement. • Children cross Fellows to go to O'Brien to play. Fear for their safety. Will the multi -use path still be built? Mr. Durr responded that it will under options A, B(s) and D. Asked for a stop sign at Chippewa and Fellows. • People back out from the south side of Chippewa have a hard time seeing the cars coming from Michigan Street. • Preference for keeping the volume of traffic on Ireland, not into the Fellows Street residential area. • Children catch a school bus at Barbie and Fellows at different times each morning. Increased traffic would make it more dangerous, especially in the dark. Mr. Durr explained that Option A, B1, 2, 3, and D options would reduce the traffic on Fellows leaving typical residential traffic on Fellows Street. Mr. Downes asked for feedback from the crowd regarding Option C where 10 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting — August 28, 2012 2. NEW 13USINESS A. South Side Development Area (1) continued... the traffic is pushed onto Ireland then to Michigan. How do residents feel about being cut off from Ireland by the cul -de -sacs? If people want to direct the traffic onto Ireland Road, they would have to accept the fact that they will also be cut off from using the Ireland/Fellows intersection. • Gentleman has timed all the intersections near Fellows and Ireland. He believes no one will use them more than once because they would have s6' lop" a wait there. • Woman asks why Mr. Durr favors Option D. Mr. Durr responded that it returns the neighborhood to the neighborhood by reducing the traffic on Fellows and Chippewa, it addresses the drainage issues, provides a two lane road with an option to still go down Ireland Road, and improves the Ireland/Fellows intersection. The plan takes the best of each alternative. Residents who desire to relocate still have the option to do so and we focus in those areas for the property acquisition. It seems like everyone gets what they want. 0 Gentleman favors Option D because it addresses the serious issues. Believes the do- nothing option is negligent and Oangerous. P Gentleman asks why U.S. 31 is closing south of the bypass. Mr. Durr explained that they are trying to make 11 South Ben Redevelopment Commission Regular M eting — August 28, 2012 2. NEW BUSINESS A. South Side Development Area (1) continued... it a limited access` highway, a faster route for people to get between South Bend and Indianapolis. • Gentleman said that Fellows Street used to be closed and a car would come by every 15 minutes. Now that Fellows is opened again, a car comes by every 25 seconds. Does not favor closing Fellows again: City will be liable for unsafe conditions. • Gentleman asked if alternatives will be available online. Mr.Durr said yes and Commissioners agreed. • Gentleman who bought a house on Barbie last year wondered if traffic will increase on Barbie. He liked the quiet street. Or would the new road in woods take care of that? Mr. Durr explained that the route down Barbie, in essence, w6 Id' to get drainage and run a pipe down Barbie. It was the quickest route from point A to point B with potential storm sewers. Also providing a light at the intersection as it's a difficult residential two lane. Mr. Schalliol added with the traffic signal at Barbie and Michigan, that Barbie would become a alternate route to Fellows St. What this would do would be to put the traffic on the new roadway instead. • A new road through the woods would be dangerous because it goes through a public park. • Resident at 4218 Fellows wishes city 12 South Benq Redevelopment Commission Regular M eting — August 28, 2012 2. NEW BUSINESS A. South Side Development Area (1) continued... to take her house. Asks for a fair price. Doesn't want to be stuck with a house that has no resale value. Audience expresses agreement by much applause. • Resident at 4204 Fellows who says she lives in a ditch. She and her neighbors cannot get out of their driveways. When'it rains the yards. flood. Has concerns about critters with the pond at Erskine. She wishes for her home to be taken at a fair price. • Gentleman asked what the traffic count was currently on Fellows Street north of Ireland. Mr. Schalliol responded 4,200 cars. The gentleman said it will double. Mr. Durr responded that they are anticipating it to triple. The gentleman noted that under Option B, traffic is routed from Barbie onto Michigan Street. The result would be like traffic in Kokomo. Why not extend the three lanes from Walter all the way to Chippewa and use the traffic light that is already there? Why, put two stop lights nextAo one another? Mr. Schalliol responded that the light at Barbie was already planned as part of the Main and Lafayette Conector project. The problem with taking traffic all the way up to Chippewa is that people would have to make a left turn across traffic on Chippewa. But he is willing to take a new look at that 13 South Benc. Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting — August 28, 2012 2. NEW 13USINESS A. South Side Development Area (1 ) continued... possibility. • Woman asked about the stop light at Barbie and whether it would be a "no right turn on red" intersection. She cannot back out of her drive the way it is now. Mr. Schalliol says that would be a question for the engineering department. He mentioned that the state is going to add a dedicated left turn lane from both directions on Fellows at Ireland so there will be a left turn involved with that light. There is not a planned left turn movement on Ireland but there is one on Fellows. Mr. Durr added that they're putting in a very short turn lane from Fellows coming north to Ireland: three to four cars or even a double turn lane to get cars off of Fellows. • Mr. Downes asked Mr. Schalliol and Mr. Durr if they have isolated the cost to address the drainage issues on Fellows, Barbie and Chippewa. If Option C is chosen, one of the primary negatives to that is that it doesn't address the drainage issues. That is, obviously, the lowest cost alternative. Could the remaining funds be used to address, the drainage issues? Mr. Durr replied that the drainage and intersection issues can be addressed. They did not isolate those costs, but they could. • Woman lives on the corner of Teri and Fellows and asked whether sound 14 South Benc. Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting — August 28, 2012 2. NEW 13USINESS A. S uth Side Development Area (1 continued... barriers would be installed. The traffic now is so bad that she can't sleep at night. Mr. Durr explained that under Option A her home would be further away from the road. With options B and D the majority of the traffic is going up the new Walter Street to Barbie, not on Fellows, so she should see a reduction in traffic. A gentleman likes Option C for that reason alone. Woman asked if sidewalks would be put in with the Option C plan. Mr. Durr said there is a plan all ready to go to have a bike path extend from Miami to Fellows. Mr. Schalliol added that one of the acquisition issues the city has' with C is that to get from Fellows to Michigan, we'd have to do property acquisition to put a sidewalk in on the north side of Ireland. One of the pieces that the city doesn't have as a cost in there is the right of way acquisition necessary for the sidewalk all the way on the north side of Ireland. Woman says she doesn't understand any of this and she doesn't care about anything else. All she knows that she may or may not lose her house. Can someone tell her whether they will be losing their homes? Gentleman took objection to her saying safety wasn't an issue she was concerned about. He is most concerned about the safety of Isi South Ben Redevelopment Commission Regular M eting — August 28, 2012 2. NEW BUSINESS A. South Side Development Area (1) continued... children. Mr. Davis noted that the woman was just asking :for clarification as to whether she was going to lose her home. • Woman noted that kids are only in the park in the day time. Perhaps a walkway for the kids? And people don't want to lose their park, but better to lose a park vs. a neighborhood. • Someone said that with 8,000 additional cars coming in to the Fellows /Ireland intersection, he thinks they may not all be wanting to go on into downtown, but rather intend to do shopping along Ireland. Spending $6 million to do all this before we know we need to is an awful a lot of money. There are street counts that he's gotten from up in Mishawaka that Ireland can handle the amount of.cars,that are projected to go each direction. Why not wait and see if there really is a problem? • Gentleman asked Mr. Durr if Option A, from an engineering standpoint, is the best choice. Mr. Durr responded that Option A is an optimal choice. It meets everything that's needed to be done. But it is also important to get a decision made and go forward with it. People are tired of not knowing. • Woman requested that the city just take the houses. It's been over two years and the residents are tired of the indecision. 16 South Ben I Redevelopment Commission Regular M eting — August 28, 2012 2. NEW BUSINESS A. South Side Development Area (I� continued... Gentleman asked Mr. Durr what the current level of service is on Ireland and Fellows and what the projected service is for Options A and C. Mr. Durr responded that do- nothing plan would be a failure. For Option A, the city would have to retime the green signal on Fellows, The green time on Ireland was changed recently to reduce emissions as part of a "green grant." INDOT's opinion was that a left turn lane was not required. But INDOT looked at it again and said a left turn lane would need to be added. The gentleman asked what the current service was. Mr. Durr responded that there was very little traffic going south. All the traffic is either going through at Ireland or turning left more down to Fellows or coming south on Fellows and turning right or left. Businesses at the corner expressed displeasure of blocking entrances. Mr. Durr guesses at certain times, when there is heavy traffic, probably getting into Option D. Michelle, a Fellows Street resident, thinks all Alternate B's are a win win situation for everyone. Alternate C will not eliminate the drainage problem. Also, she agrees with the previous speaker that we really know that all 8,000 cars are going to travel down Fellows through the neighborhood. She would like to see as few properties acquired. 17 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting — August 28, 2012 2. NEW BUSINESS A. South Side Development Area (1) continued... Acquiring thirty properties would be detrimental to the neighborhood. Option B will allow on- street parking, it eliminates the drainage problems and requires the least property acquisition. Mr. Davis questioned which B option? She said B2 left the substandard intersection at Teri, but otherwise, one was as good as another. • Gentleman noted that we're still not sure how many cars are going to want to go north on Fellows. Whether it's 4,000 or 2,000. more, that is too much. • Woman who lives on Chippewa is concerned with drainage problems because she's had problems with her basement. • Woman asked what the time frame was and how much longer will her 90 year old dad have to wonder whether he's going to have to give up his house or not? Ms. Jones responded that it's stretching out because we do things like these meetings and public input. The woman sides with not taking anyone's homes. • Woman who lives on Teri Street stated a concern about cars cutting down Teri. Mr. Durr responded that if Option A is chosen, he can't imagine anyone wanting to cut down Teri then have,to;go up St. Joe to make another left or right turn. • Gentleman asked what would be the anticipated speed limit up Fellows 18 South Benj Redevelopment Commission Regular M eting — August 28, 2012 2. NEW IOUSINESS A. South Side Development Area (1 ) continued... with Option A Mr; Durr responded 30 m.p.h. • Mr. St. Clair noted in relationship to the park that he does sympathize with some of the things said tonight. He takes Fellows Street home every night. He works at the O'Brien Center, Director of the Parks and Recreation Dept., and he wanted to make a few points about O'Brien Park. Each year they count each kid who participates in a program at each park. This past year at O'Brien Park there were over 8,000 kids. There were another 9,000 in summer camps there. The point is that there are kids in the park all day long. He would be concerned about the safety of those children with a highway running through the park. ,' Also, when the property was deeded by the O'Brien family to the city, it was deeded for the property to be used as a park. But, first and foremost, his concern is safety. • Mr. Downes asked how soon the Options would be available online. Mr. Schalliol responded that they can be posted as early as Wednesday, August 29, 2012, on the city's website at southbendin.gov. There will be a link on the front page. • Woman asked when the houses would be taken or not. She said that since residents were told the city was taking the homes, renters won't rent . 19 South Ben M Redevelopment Commission Regular eting — August 28, 2012 2. NEW 13USINESS A. South Side Development Area (1) continued... there; and some people have bought other homes. Mr. Davis asked who told her that the city would be taking their homes? She said residents were all told that at the last meeting. • Gentleman asked "what would be the next step the Commission would take in regards to making a decision. Is there an anticipated time frame or projected time frame? Ms. Jones noted that staff will take into consideration the comments made tonight and make its recommendation to the Commission at one of its public meetings, possibly on September 13. • Mr. Davis suggested polling the neighbors for their preferences on a website. He is not suggesting that is what to do, just throwing the idea out there. Mr. Schalliol said he would work on ways to gather final opinions from residents. • Mr. Downes noted that Mr. Davis' point is well taken. It's critical for the Redevelopment Commission to know what the property owners who are going to be affected by these plans feel about this and the information to date has been anecdotal. The Commission needs to know. Mr. Schalliol asked the Commission if they want a poll of those who are affected specifically or the entire neighborhood. Mr. Davis replied he feels the Commission needs to know how the people who's ill South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting — August 28, 2012 2. NEW 13USINESS A. South Side Development Area (1 continued... properties will be affected feel about each option. 4. ADJOURNMENT There being no additional opinions to be expressed, the meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m. Donald E. 1 Director 21 THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 7:45 P.M. Marcia I. Jones, President