06-27-16 - Laserfiche WebLink

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REGULAR MEETING June 27, 2016 received would have been that letter. There was an error in the zoning district but that has been corrected. Those wishing to speak in favor of the bill: Jesse Davis, P.O Box 10205 South Bend, spoke in favor of the bill. He stated he read some of the letters sent to Ms. Kimbrough and they were not pleasant. We are trying to supposedly revitalize the City as a whole and we keep talking about inclusion and diversity and making the neighborhoods better. The red tape she has been made to go through is a little bit crazy. We have all other types of businesses that come to the Council that ask for rezoning and tax abatements for thousands of dollars that we give on a regular basis. This business would help that area in South Bend. Samuel Brown, 222 East Navarre Street South Bend, stated when he went to the Area Plan Commission he saw no reason to not pass this rezoning. If there is a hidden agenda tonight is the place to bring it to light. The Council should vote to approve this because there is no reason not to. We are trying to build up the City and make it nice and this would do that. Pete Taddeo, 623 East LaSalle Blvd. South Bend, spoke in favor of the bill. He stated he owns the Popeye's Chicken near this location and has spent a considerable amount of money rehabbing that property and now business is doing well. This will be a good addition to that corridor. He stated Ms. Kimbrough has also been handling some of his advertisement for his business for almost fifteen (15) years and she does a great job. He stated he has been to her current location and never smelled any toxic chemicals or something like that. Darnell O'Neil, 2730 Lincolnway West Ave. South Bend, spoke in favor of the bill. He stated he has no problem with her opening this printing location there and he lives right next to the property. This is the best of both worlds because it still will look like a house but will be occupied now. Yes it makes sense to have businesses and houses all together in separate locations but that is not going to happen on Lincolnway because of the current makeup of the buildings. This would be an uplifting investment in the community. Larry Baimin, 333 North Main Street South Bend, stated he has known Ms. Kimbrough for ten (10) years and advertises in her magazine. This will be good for that neighborhood and the Lincolnway corridor. We can make that property look great and be a great asset to South Bend. Rodney Seward, Kentucky Street South Bend, spoke in favor of the bill. It is frustrating that she is having a hard time getting this rezoned. She could go anywhere else but she decided to invest in South Bend. Jason Banicki Critchlow, 3822 West Ford Street, stated this seems like a no- brainer situation. We are looking to revitalize that corridor and the first new business was a Family Dollar seven (7) blocks from another Family Dollar. That is not going to change the character of the corridor. Adding a printing shop that lets someone make a nice middle class income is a net positive. Anytime you can turn residential into business that raises the property tax value instantly which helps us all. Garry James Baptise, 141 South Camden Street South Bend, spoke in favor of the bill. He stated Ms. Kimbrough is a great member of his church and his church is in concern about why she is having such a hard time with this rezoning. He stated he thinks Palmer's Funeral Home is trying to block this so that they can have parking there on that site. Ms. Kimbrough has been doing this business for many years and has done so successfully and with integrity. No one spoke in opposition to the bill. Councilmember Oliver Davis made a motion to send Amended Bill 20 -16 to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. Councilmember Karen White seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes. 24 -16 PUBLIC HEARING ON AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 539