12-14-15 Common Council Meeting Minutes

Home Browse Search

REGULAR MEETING DECEMBER 14. 2015 Matthew Chappuies, Area Plan Commission with offices on the Eleventh (11) floor of the County -City Building, presented this bill. Mr. Chappuies reported the petition was to rezone property in the northwest Portage re- district from Single - Family to Office Buffer District. On site currently is a dental office and a vacant property. This petition would bring the entire area into the same zoning and allow for the expansion of the dental office. Across the street is a video store. To the north and west are single family homes. To the east are single family and multifamily homes. Mr. Chappuies stated this is a commercial node that tapers into residential. He presented pictures of the property and of the site plan showing the existing building and the proposed expansion. Mr. Chappuies reported that the petition came in with a favorable recommendation from the Area Plan Commission. There were no questions from councilmembers. Leslie Green, 58867 County Road Five (5) Elkhart Indiana, spoke as the petitioner. He stated the purpose of the petition is to provide more ample parking and get cars off of the street. There were no questions for the petitioner from the Council. No one from the public was present in favor of the petition. Don Bubaker, 1706 Anderson Avenue South Bend, spoke in opposition to the petition. He stated the ordinances currently in place were set up for air quality and aesthetic appearances. He stated if you put the retaining wall up you will have problems with trees and long term this is not a good idea. He stated there will be nowhere to put snow in the winter in this proposed lot. Mr. Bubaker stated the business across the street from the property follows all the current ordinances and is aesthetically pleasing. Mr. Bubaker recognized his idea is not the most cost effective and provides less parking but is best for the neighborhood in the long -term. Petitioner Leslie Green spoke to rebut the opposition. He stated in the ordinance you can put a fence in to satisfy the needs of the ordinances. He had no current plan of how to remove the snow in the winter but believed it would need to be removed and not stock piled. He stated installing an elevator and second floor would triple the cost of the proposed building right now by perhaps an additional forty -five thousand to one - hundred thousand dollars. He reported he has been a contractor for twenty -five (25) years and can give examples of his work if they are needed. Councilmember Dieter made a motion for favorable recommendation to full Council concerning this bill. Councilmember Dr. David Varner seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes. BILL NO.79 -15 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL TO VACATE THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED PROPERTY: THE FIRST ALLEY TO BE VACATED IS THE FIRST NORTH/SOUTH ALLEY WEST OF ARNOLD STREET FROM DONALD STREET TO THE FIRST EAST /WEST ALLEY FROM A DISTANCE OF 455 .95 FEET AND A WIDTH OF 14 FEET. THE SECOND ALLEY TO BE VACATED IS THE FIRST EAST /WEST ALLEY NORTH OF EWING AVENUE Councilmember Henry Davis Jr. stated the Public Works Committee met and sends the bill to the Council with a favorable recommendation. Gary Mason, 2123 South Arnold Street, spoke as the petitioner and presenter. He stated the alley has always been green space and never an alley. He stated this would consolidate the properties and make it so the neighbors can do their own work on the property. There were no questions from Council. 3