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Home My WebLink About07-27-2026 Zoning and Annexation Committee MinutesOFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK BIANCA L. T IRADO, c rrY CLERK ZONING AND ANNEXATION Committee Members Present: Committee Members Absent: Other Council Present: Others Present: Presenters: Agenda: JULY 27, 2026, 4:25 P.M. Dr. Heidi Beidinger, Karen L. White, Kay Farlow*, Stacey Odom, Rachel Tomas Morgan, Dr. Oliver Davis None Sherry Bolden-Simpson, Canneth Lee, Opheli<:1 Gooden-Rodgers Bianca L. Tirado, Matthew Neal, Jasmine Jackson, Lari'onna Green, Veronica Pitt- Payne, Bob Palmer Tim Staub, Barbara Turner, Dr. Oliver Davis Bill No. 45-26 -Amending the Zoning Ordinance for Various Properties Located on Johnson Street, Orange Street, and Parallel Street Bill No. 26-21 -Resolution Urging a Pause on the Enactment of the Midwest Continental Divide Trail and Committing to Resident Input, Fiscal Responsibility, and Property Rights Members marked with an asterisk (*) are in virtual attendance via Microsoft Teams. Please note the attached link for the meeting recording: https://docs.southbendin.gov/WebLink/browse.aspx?dbid=0,0&mediaid=411597 Committee Chair Dr. Oliver Davis called to order the Zoning and Annexation Committee meeting at 4:38 P.M. Jasmine Jackson Q-rrEF DEPUfY O TY Q ERK I Q-rrEF OF STAFF INTEGRITY I SERVICE I ACCESSIBILITY Matthew Neal D EPUTY Q TY Q ERK / D IRECTOR OF POLICY Veronica Pitt-Payne D IRECTOR OF SPEGAL PROJECTS EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall [ 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.9173 [ www.southbendin.gov f~} CITY OF SOffirl BEND I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK ·" 7 Bill No. 45-26 -Amending the Zoning Ordinance for Various Properties Located on Johnson Street, Orange Street, and Parallel Street Tim Staub, Zoning Specialist, with offices on the fifth ( 5th) floor of City Hall, South Bend, IN 46601 , presented the bill. He said the petitioner is requesting the rezoning of six (6) parcels from urban neighborhood one (U 1) to urban neighborhood two (U2). He spoke about the development history of the block, which is now entirely vacant following the recent demolition of the Berean Seventh-Day Adventist Church. He said the petitioner's intention to build single-family homes, duplexes, and cottage court-style apartments on the site is consistent with the Kennedy Park neighborhood plan, which calls for medium-density housing. He added that a medium-density housing community on the site would benefit from the Martin Luther King Jr. Dream Center and the future extension of the Coal Line Trail. He said the bill comes with a favorable recommendation from the Plan Commission. Committee Chair Dr. Davis asked the petitioner to come forward. Barbara Turner, Petitioner, 56085 Chapel Lane, South Bend, IN 46619, said she intends to bring affordable housing to the neighborhood in the form of single-family homes, duplexes, and stacked one (1 )-bedroom apartments. She expressed a desire to expand the project to other nearby vacant lots in the future. Committee Member Dr. Heidi Beidinger said the parcels appear to be zoned as U2 already, referencing the zoning maps on the PowerPoint presentation slides. Tim Staub returned to the slide with the zoning map. He explained that this is the zoning map from the Kennedy Park neighborhood plan, which reflects the neighborhood's intended future zoning, not its current zoning. Committee Member Dr. Beidinger thanked the petitioner and expressed support for the project. Committee Chair Dr. Davis noted that this is the former site of his church, and he is glad to see those grounds used in a positive way. Committee Chair Dr. Davis held the public hearing, and nobody spoke. Councilmember Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers acknowledged the petitioner's work on the project over the past year and thanked her for bringing more affordable housing to the City. Council President Canneth Lee thanked the petitioner for her commitment to the City and said there is a need for more one (1 )-bedroom housing units. Committee Member Karen L. White expressed pride for the petitioner's work and its impact on the City. Committee Member White moved to send Bill No. 45-26 to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation, which was seconded by Committee Vice Chair Rachel Tomas Morgan and carried by a vote of six ( 6) ayes. I Committee Chair Dr. Oliver Davis -Aye I Committee Vice Chair Rachel Tomas Morgan -Aye EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall I 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.9173 1 www.southbendin.gov @ CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK Committee Member Karen L. White -Aye Committee Member Dr. Heidi Beidinger -Aye Citizen Member Stacey Odom -Aye Citizen Member Kay Farlow -Aye Bill No. 26-21 -Resolution Urging a Pause on the Enactment of the Midwest Continental Divide Trail and Committing to Resident Input, Fiscal Responsibility, and Property Rights Committee Chair Dr. Oliver Davis, 1801 Nash Street, South Bend, IN 46613, presented the bill. He spoke about being surprised to learn about the proposed Midwest Continental Divide Trail and said this resolution calls for a pause on the City of South Bend's involvement in the project. He described the concerns of landowners whose properties are located along the potential trail route. He said the City plays a key role in the project, appointing one (1) of three (3) voting members to the Midwest Continental Divide Trail Commission. He noted that the City has already invested financial and planning resources in the project. He said the forty-million dollars ($40,000,000) could be used for other needs in the community, and Council has had no awareness or involvement in the planning process. He said a pause is needed until the legislation authorizing the project is amended at the state level and residents receive full transparency. Committee Member White noted that the next Committee meeting is scheduled to begin in two (2) minutes. She asked Council Attorney Bob Palmer if state statute requires the meeting to begin promptly at 5:00 P.M .. Committee Chair Dr. Davis noted that the current meeting started late due to a brief severe weather evacuation during an earlier meeting. Attorney Palmer said the current meeting can run over a short time, as long as the next meeting starts relatively close to 5 :00 P .M. Committee Vice Chair Tomas Morgan said they could have a fuller discussion of the bill at the 7:00 P.M. meeting if they run out of time. Committee Member Dr. Beidinger asked for confirmation that the resolution is calling for a pause, not abolishing anything. Committee Chair Dr. Davis confirmed that is correct. Committee Vice Chair Tomas Morgan opened the public hearing. Steve Sass, 27910 US Highway 20, New Carlisle, IN 46552, spoke in favor of the bill. He described the state legislation as "fatally flawed" and said it needs to be amended during the next state legislative session. He said the master plan is also deeply flawed. He stated his intention to share more in-depth comments at the 7:00 P.M. meeting. Chantelle Snyder, 57501 Mayflower Road, South Bend, IN 46619, spoke in favor of the bill. She said any claims that the funding will be lost if the project does not continue are misinformation. She stated that the money is coming from a compact between the state and the Pokagon Band and listed other potential uses. Dan Caruso, 305 East Compton Street, New Carlisle, IN 4655 2, spoke in favor of the bill. He shared his concerns regarding eminent domain and the infringement of property rights. He said EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall I 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 If. 57 4.235.9173 1 www.southbendin.gov .. ~w,.- (~ CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK landowners have not been included in planning conversations. Araquel Bloss, 2513 Erskine Boulevard, South Bend, IN 46614, spoke in favor of the bill. She said the process did not meet the minimum bar for community inclusion, input and consensus. She suggested that the funds should be directed toward unmet needs in the community such as housing instability, transportation access gaps, damaged infrastructure, and food insecurity. Committee Vice Chair Tomas Morgan closed the public hearing. Committee Member Dr. Beidinger moved to send Bill No. 26-21 to the Full Council with a favorable recommendation, which was seconded by Citizen Member Stacey Odom and carried by a vote of five (5) ayes with one (1) nay. Committee Chair Dr. Oliver Davis -Aye Committee Vice Chair Rachel Tomas Morgan -Nay Committee Member Karen L. White -Aye Committee Member Dr. Heidi Beidinger -Aye Citizen Member Stacey Odom -Aye Citizen Member Kay Farlow -Aye With no further business, Committee Chair Dr. Davis adjourned the Zoning and Annexation Committee meeting at 5 :07 P.M. EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall J 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 i f. 574.235.9173 1 www.southbendin.gov