HomeMy WebLinkAboutHEA 1001 Public Input 2�3
July 24, 2026
Mr. Tim Staub, Zoning Specialist
City of South Bend Department of Community Investment
215 South Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, Suite 500
South Bend, IN 46601
Filed in Clerk's Office
Jul 24, 2026
Bianca Tirado
City Clerk_ South Bend, IN
RE: HEA 1001 Public Hearing— Support for Housing Development Initiatives
Dear Mr. Staub:
Regretfully, I am unable to attend Monday's public hearing which is being held to discuss the City of South Bend's
compliance with HEA 1001, signed into law by Governor Braun earlier this year. As you've stated in the email I received
on July 17th, local units of government are obligated by law to hold a public hearing to address steps to be taken to boost
housing supply, lower construction costs, and streamline local approval processes and, in particular, address nine (9)
different factors. Although obligated to hold a hearing, I would like to publicly applaud efforts by the Department of
Community Investment (DCI) in recent years to proactively take steps to promote new housing in all neighborhoods of
the city, at all price points, and for all stages of life.
As a consulting engineer representing builders and developers, as a board member of the Homebuilders
Association of St. Joseph Valley, and as a resident of unincorporated South Bend, I want to take this opportunity to
commend the DCI, the mayor, the council, and other departments for steps already taken, including:
• Meeting with builders and developers and listening to the various challenges we face;
• Publishing a filing schedule for the plan commission and board of zoning appeals and, more importantly, turning
around administrative and technical reviews in a timely fashion so that anticipated hearing dates are met;
• Charging reasonable and appropriate fees for filings, plan reviews, and permits;
• Publishing a revamped zoning code in late 2019, which promotes walkable neighborhoods;
• Remaining receptive to design suggestions that are being viewed positively in the market (but maybe needing some
relief and/or favorable interpretation by code and plan reviewers);
• Intelligent use of tax incremental financing tools;
• Eliminating minimum parking requirements;
• Publishing a set of pre -approved building plans for various types of new homes; and
• Investing in parks, traits, and roadway maintenance.
I look forward to watching an archived video of Monday's hearing and I took forward to working with you and the City
in the future to deliver new neighborhoods and housing.
Sincerely,
V3 Companies
T_�
Brian McMorrow, PE
Sr. Project Manager— Land Development
Go
beyond
limits
321 South Main Street, Suite 103, South Bend, IN 46601 • 317.423.0690