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REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 22, 2016 consistent with the master plan for the area. Ms. Smith provided maps of the areas that would be affected by this change which are on file in the City Clerk's Office. There are many areas throughout the City that have a mix of Single - Family and Multi - Family Districts. This would allow there to be the flexibility for the property owners and protect the integrity of the zoning districts. The Area Plan Commission sends this forward with a favorable recommendation. Since the adoption of the zoning ordinance in 2004, the housing market has continued to change and evolve. These proposed changes recognize revived interests in converting homes back into Single Family. There were no questions from Council. Those wishing to speak in favor of the bill: Marco Mariani, Executive Director of the South Bend Heritage Foundation offices at 803 Lincolnway West, spoke in favor of this bill. The Foundation supports this text amendment, it is very logical and supports everything that we are trying to do with affordable housing developments. This wiff support development and streamline the process. Joe Wiengel, resident of the 1 st District, stated he represents citizens of the Lincoln Park neighborhood. The Lincoln Park Neighborhood is a new neighborhood that was put together along with South Bend Heritage Foundation. Zoning is primarily the driving factor in the rapidly accelerating lack of affordable housing in urban areas. Zoning by many suburban and ex -urban communities for very large residential lots in order to preserve home values excludes poor people. Obviously this shifts the market to build more expensive homes than ordinarily might have been built. He stated that he spends thirty -five percent (35 %) of his income on housing. Other people in his neighborhood spend the same amount and more. Some see these restrictions as violating property rights. It can be argued that zoning boards and city councils disable property owners' creative use of their lands. Along with potential property right infringement, zoning laws have been criticized as a means to promote social and economic segregation through exclusion. These laws create maximum density requirements and as a result lower income groups deemed undesirable or unwelcome are effectively excluded from certain communities. Political decisions allocated housing of different prices to different neighborhoods and thereby turn the market into a mechanism for class segregation. Zoning encourages income segregation and there is a relationship between an area's allowance for building housing at higher density and racial integration between blacks and whites in the Unites States. The intent of this policy is flexible housing opportunities by changing zoning regulations. Marguerite Taylor, 714 Corby Blvd South Bend, spoke in favor of the bill. The Northeast Neighborhood has worked long and hard to preserve our housing for families. We have the largest number of Notre Dame students off campus in our neighborhood. It is hard to keep families where they are currently but this will help us. Jose De Arevala, 3809 Fellows Street, spoke in favor of the bill. The way zoning currently works is that it makes it difficult to rezone property for affordable properties. In most people's opinions the process of rezoning is a big unnecessary hurdle. There are a lot of difficulties in finding affordable housing and this change in zoning helps achieve the goals of keeping housing affordable. No one spoke in opposition to the bill. Councilmember Oliver Davis made a motion to send Bill 37 -16 with a favorable recommendation as amended. Councilmember John Voorde seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes. 38 -16 PUBLIC HEARING ON AN ORDINANCE INITIATED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA AMENDING CHAPTER 21 OF THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE, ARTICLE 3 BY ADDING GROUP RESIDENCE TO SPECIAL EXCEPTION USES IN CBD CENTRAL BUSINESS 5