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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-27-03 Zoning & Annexation Uommitt a depart Zoning aub 2tinveation Cantmitttt Tle December 27, 2003 meeting of the Zoning and Annexation Committee was called to order by its Chairperson, Council Member Ervin Kuspa at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Informal Meeting Room. Persons in attendance included Council Members Varner, Kirsits, Aranowski, Pfeifer, Kelly, Coleman, Kuspa and White; Community & Economic Development Director Jon Hunt, Area Plan Executive Director Robert Sante, Area Plan Assistant Director John Byorni, Robert Hunt, City Engineer Carl Littrell, Public Works Director Gary Gilot, Bernard Feeney, Larry Magliozzi, Terry Bland of the *Mb Witti ib1tfl and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand,Council Attorney. Council Member White noted that the first item on the agenda was to receive an update from the South Bend Zoning Ordinance Steering Committee. Mr. Robert Sante then made the formal presentation. He noted that the South Bend Zoning Ordinance Steering Committee started meeting in September of 2002. They will completely overhaul the city's zoning regulations. Mr. Sante stated that they will be"trashing the majority of the current ordinance" with limited exceptions related to adult business uses. He then reviewed some of the proposed changes in the zoning districts which he said will be proposed to be "changed substantially". He noted that they will propose regulations to address"big box sites"and. the issues related to storage. Mr. Sante stated that the law firm of Baker Daniels was hired last year to oversee this entire project. Mr. Sante stated that the Steering Committee is addressing policy issues and not technical issues. The Area Plan staff meets weekly with Baker Daniels through video conferencing. Mr. Sante noted that they are on schedule and are providing high quality work. Mr. Sante then provided a handout which listed the web address where the draft of the zoning ordinance could be accessed [http://www.bakerdaniels.com/southbend.htm]. Mr. Sante stated that the draft of the text of the zoning ordinance should be ready in early Summer with the remapping to take at least six(6) months or longer. Council Member Pfeifer suggested that input from the Corridor Committees be sought. Mr. Sante stated that that was a good idea and that he would be in contact with each of them. Council Member Pfeifer inquired about permitting downstairs businesses with residential units above. Mr. Sante stated that this would be considered a mixed use and would be considered. Council Member Pfeifer urged Mr. Sante to include such a use, especially on the corridor locations. She further suggested that South Bend must pay attention to trends so that we are ready to address "Big City Invasion"issues. Council Member Kuspa thanked Mr. Sante for his presentation. Council Member Kuspa noted that a letter dated January 7, 2003 (copy attached) from Larry Magliozzi, Assistant Director of the Division of Community Development has been received requesting that Bill No. 02-91 be withdrawn. The Council Attorney stated that the proper motion at this evening's meeting would be to strike Bill No. 02-91 at the request of the petitioner. Council Member Kuspa stated that a letter dated December 10, 2002(copy attached) from Michael Zoning and Annexation Committee January 27, 2003 Page 2 J. Danch, President of Danch, Harner&Associates has been received requesting that Bill No. 72- 02 be withdrawn. Council Member Kuspa noted that a motion to strike would therefore be in order this evening. Council Member Kuspa then called for a presentation on Bill No. 03-14 which would adopt a written fiscal plan and establish a policy for the provision of services to the Cleland Homes Inc. Annexation Area in German Township. Larry Magliozzi, Assistant Director of the Division of Community Development, made the presentation. He noted that this is a voluntary annexation request for 28 plus acres in German Township. The report concluded that essential city services can be made available to the area in a timely and comparable fashion per the requirements of governing state law. Following discussion, Council Member Coleman made a motion, seconded by Council Member Kelly that Bill No. 03-14 be recommended favorably to Council. The motion passed. Bernard Feeney then made a presentation on Bill No. 102-02 on behalf of Justine Demaegt, which is the companion bill to the proposed fiscal plan addressed in Bill No. 03-14. He noted that there is one (1) house on the land and some dilapidated farm buildings. It is currently zoned "R" Residential and is proposed to be zoned"A" Single Family and be divided into 140 residential lots with a proposed population base of 350 individuals. At the request of Council Member Coleman, Mr. Feeney noted that the lots would run between 6,000 square feet to 12,000 square feet. There would be a wide variety of home styles starting at $80,000 with Cleland Homes Inc. being the contractor. The area is immediately west of the Jack Hickey project and would be grid-like. It would feed into stub streets of the adjoining subdivision and stub streets in the county. Following discussion, Council Member Coleman made a motion, seconded by Council Member Kelly that Bill No. 102-02 be recommended favorably to Council. The motion passed. Under unfinished business, the Council Attorney noted that under 1st Readings Bill No. 6-03 is listed requesting to be named an historic landmark. She noted that the Historic Preservation Commission held its public hearing on this request in 1997. Since the Council Attorney did not believe that six (6) years between the HPC hearing and the Common Council public hearing was a reasonable period of time for the property owner, she is recommending that Bill No. 6-03 not be heard by the Council until February 24th. This would permit HPC to contact the property owner again and provide more timely information to the Council. There being no further business to come before the Committee meeting, Council Member Kuspa adjourned the meeting at 4:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Council Member Ervin Kuspa, Chairperson Zoning and Annexation Committee KCF:kmf Attachments