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Community & Economic Development IiS 1200 County -City Building, 227 West Jefferson, South Bend, Indiana 46601 -1830 Phone 574/235 -9371 Fax 574/235 -9021 To: Redevelopment Commission From: Tamara Nicholl -Smith Subject: Request RDC Approval to file a Special Exception with the ABZA Schillings property (325 -333 S Lafayette) Date: November 2, 2012 At the Commission meeting on November 8th, the Redevelopment Commission will begin the process for disposing of the former Schillings Camera Store building located at 325 -333 S Lafayette. The property is presently zoned CBD Commercial Business District and is being set for disposition under that zoning classification. Over the last several weeks, staff has been working with the principals of the Indiana Whiskey Company as they work to develop a business plan and finalize a business location to begin their operations. The business plan proposes that Indiana Whiskey will distill and package the whiskey for distribution for sale and will also have a public sales and tasting area as part of the business. After looking at a couple of sites, it appears that a potential home for this new business could be the Schillings facility. The proximity to downtown and adjacency to the Coveleski Stadium area would be a prime location for this start -up business. One of Indiana Whiskey's challenges with locating in the Schillings property is that the CBD zoning designation would allow for the retail aspects of the proposed business, but would not allow for the manufacturing and distribution aspects of their project. Indiana Whiskey would be required to seek a Special Exception from the ABZA and South Bend Common Council to allow the manufacturing /distribution uses within the CBD designation. The purpose of this staff memorandum is to request Commission approval to sign, as the current property owner of the Schillings property, a special exception petition request with the ABZA and allow the Indiana Whiskey Company to petition for this special exception. The ABZA filing deadline for its December 5th meeting is November 13th. If favorably approved by the ABZA, the petition would be sent to the Common Council for action at its January 14th meeting. Bids for purchase of lease of the Schillings building would be opened on December 13th and if no successful bidders, the 30 day wait period would end on January 14th with the RDC first being able to take action on a negotiated disposition proposal on January 24tH By filing a request with the ABZA concurrent with the property starting the disposition process, Indiana Whiskey would be in a position to bid on the property and know if the special exception would be granted for the site. Additionally, by the Commission granting this petition, the Commission will be able to negotiate with a bidder in good faith and know that the site is eligible for a proposed use. Staff respectfully requests Commission approval to allow Indiana Whiskey to submit a special exception request with the ABZA on its behalf and grants Don Inks authority to sign all necessary applications and documentation related to the petition on its behalf. What We Do Today Makes A Difference!