02-07-01 Public Works & Property Vacation

Home Browse Search

I Council trout .: VOW illiorks ant( Vroptrtv cation Committee The February 7, 2001, meeting of the Public Works and Property Vacation Committee was called to order by its Chairperson, Council Member David Varner, at 3:03 p.m. in the Council Informal Meeting Room. Persons in attendance included: Council Members White, Pfeifer, Aranowski, Varner, Coleman, King, Kelly and Kirsits; Rabbi Morley T. Feinstein, Dr. Fred Stump of the South Bend Community School Corporation, Richard Hebard, Park Superintendent Phil St. Clair, Public Works Director Gary Gilot, Sheila Bershwin, Steve Shore, Lisa Ann Shore, Larry Kefler, Dennis Whitacker, Eileen Bender, Harvey Bender, Chuck Lennon, Nancy Sulok and Terry Bland of the $youth Wombr Zriburic and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand,Council Attorney. Council Member Varner noted that the purpose of this Committee meeting was to continue the discussion of Bill No. 6-01 which is a request to vacate a portion of Greenlawn Avenue from Mishawaka Avenue to Wall Street for a distance of approximately 561.5 feet. Dr. Varner noted that at the January 22nd Committee meeting a vote was taken on the proposal which resulted in a favorable recommendation by a vote of 3-1. Subsequent to that action, the School Corporation requested that the measure to continued until February 26th so that additional information could be shared with the Council and the public. Following discussion, Council Member King made a motion to rescind the Committee vote of January 22nd on Bill No. 6-01 in light of new information which will be presented to the Council. The motion was seconded by Council Member Aranowski. The motion passed. Dr. Varner then called upon Dr. Fred Stump, Deputy Superintendent of the South Bend Community School Corporation, to make a presentation. Dr. Stump noted that a considerable amount of discussion between the City Administration and the School Corporation has taken place since the last Committee meeting which has resulted in significant changes in the conceptual site plan for John Adams High School. Mr. Richard Hebard of Hebard & Hebard Architects, Inc. reviewed the new conceptual site plan (copy attached). He noted that the prior site plan focused on a design goal of 500 parking spaces on site, angle parking on Wall Street, creating bus lanes for nine (9) busses and four(4) special ed busses and moving several athletic activities to School Field, which would be upgraded. Mr. Hebard noted that the new conceptual site plan focuses on approximately 350 parking spaces, a track area would be incorporated which goes onto city park grounds by approximately 75', a pedestrian walkway is proposed, trees would be planted along the walkway, a JV field with a track for such events as soccer would be incorporated, tennis would be a shared use between the school corporation and the community, the track area would be fenced but would be a shared use area for the school corporation and the community for walking, and the existing softball complex would be upgraded and would have a 300' fence plus a temporary fence for varsity girls' softball. He noted that there would be approximately one (1) month of overlapping events. As a result, track, soccer, football and varsity softball would remain on the school site. Mr. Phil St. Clair, Park Superintendent, noted that he sees the new site plan as a win/win for all parties concerned. He noted that he believes that the parties could "work through the issues" that remain with regard to shared usage. He stated that the proposal is workable in light of the school being land-locked. He noted that the area proposed for soccer will be flattened out from its