06-23-97 Zoning & Annexation - Laserfiche WebLink

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Commftttt *ttport: Zoning and Annexation Committee go tit Common tountfl ot tit 1CItp ot mouth Otti*: The June 23, 1997 meeting of the Zoning and Annexation Committee was called to order by its Chairperson, Council Member John Hosinski at 3:35 p.m. in the Council informal meeting room. Persons in attendance included Council Members: Aranowski, Pfeifer, Kelly, Broden, Varner, Ujdak, Coleman, Hosinski, Sniadecki; Roosevelt Cobb, Jim Voll, Kevin Butler, Carrie Bland, Doug Carpenter, Donald Steele, Evelyn Steele, Kent Hill, Cheryl Kovas, Robert Leader, Mike Gilbert, Elizabeth Gilbert, Dorothy Leader, Eleanor Burke, Jackie Rolkey, Greg Freehauf, George Weber, Barb Pollak, Gloria Reinke, Terry Bland, Greg Freehoft,and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand. Council Member Hosinski noted that the first item on the agenda was a bill requesting that the property located at 2117 East Jefferson be rezoned. Mr. James Voll showed a to P P Y the Council plan of the area in question. The Area Plan Staff sends it to e wpreliminary site p q ith an unfavorable recommendation. The Area Plan Commission sends it to the Council without recommendation since it received a 6-5 vote at the Plan Commission meeting which constitute a proper vote for action. not consti did P Pte' The etitioner, Roosevelt Cobb made the presentation. Mr. Cobb stated that the overall consideration for the proposed rezoning is the consistency of use. He then focused on traffic, parking, and lighting concerns. He noted that he will need a special exception in order to operate as a funeral home at that location. He stated that he would retain the residential appearance structurally. He also noted that the mature trees would stay. With regard to the issue of the intensity of use,he stated that he believes there would be no basic change. He then reviewed funeral statistics from May 1997 in St. Joseph County. He noted that there were 168 total services of which 49 within funeral homes or 29%. He projects that there would be approximately 100 services at that location per year. Mr. Cobb then reviewed traffic concerns and reviewed statistics from 1995 to 1997 with regard to accidents at Jefferson and Ironwood. Mr. Cobb then showed a series of slides depicting the parking under its current use as a church. He noted that the property was built in 1922. The church plans to vacate the property within approximately 60 days. He stated that he would like to move to this area from the state of Illinois and also live near this location. He then asked Jackie Rolkey from the Hickey Group to give further information. She noted that she is the Realtor for the property in question which has been listed for the past two years. All individuals interested in the property are interested in it as a commercial use. The meeting was then open to comments from the public. Mr. Kevin Butler, an attorney representing remonstraters to the rezoning then made a presentation. He stated that a "Church is a church" and not a business. He stated that a funeral home is a business. He noted that the Forest G. Hays Funeral Home is not part of the specific neighborhood and that the proposed use is not compatible with "A" residential uses. A series of neighbors then spoke in opposition to the proposed rezoning. Many stated that they believed that if it is approved it would be setting a foughtful legal precedent.