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REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 27, 2017
<br />Mary Bundy, President of the Howard Park Neighborhood Association, 318 South Francis
<br />Street, South Bend, IN, stated that there has been a lot of dialogue for a long time about this issue
<br />and that, given this fact, she was glad that the issue had not been talked to death. Ms. Bundy
<br />stated, I think that if we can continue to pass ordinances and laws and regulations that allow and
<br />encourage growth— rather than squash it and talk it to death —I think the City is on the right
<br />path, and I'm very happy to be a citizen of South Bend. I hope you will all stand together and
<br />pass this.
<br />Samuel Brown, 222 East Navarre Street, South Bend, IN, stated that he did not feel that the
<br />desire to distinguish between the east and west of the river was a good reason to stop progress.
<br />Mr. Brown stated that a bad project should be denied, but that a good project should not be
<br />turned down so easily due to something like a height issue. He stated, I hope tonight that we put
<br />it to sleep, once and for all, and let this project go through.
<br />Ryan Snodgrass, 416 25th Street, South Bend, IN, stated that it was a great idea to get a grocery
<br />store in the downtown area and that a lot of cities around the country would kill to have that kind
<br />of development going on in their downtown. He put forth the idea that this could be the catalyst
<br />for greater development in the City.
<br />Charlene Rountree, 401 Woodknoll Drive, Granger, IN, stated that she moved to the area from
<br />Central Indiana in 2009, and that back then she was told by a lot of people that South Bend was a
<br />city in decline and that young professionals should not move there. Ms. Rountree stated that if
<br />South Bend is to grow as a metropolitan area, it would be inevitable that buildings grow taller.
<br />She stated, I would be more worried about what you attract to the area by continuing to grow.
<br />Myron Larimer, 402 East South Street, South Bend, IN, stated that anything that can be done to
<br />encourage growth and development while taking into consideration the needs of local residents is
<br />a win -win. He views the allowance for more development in downtown South Bend that will
<br />meet various needs as a "slam dunk."
<br />Those from the public wishing to speak in opposition to the bill:
<br />S.J. Szabo, with offices on Mishawaka Avenue, South Bend, IN, stated that the East Race
<br />neighborhood, in its current configuration, serves a vital function in the overall plan of the City
<br />in that it provides a transition zone between the downtown across the river and the residential
<br />area on the east side. Mr. Szabo argued that a large building like the Commerce Center PUD is
<br />not the only project through which that neighborhood could get a grocery store. He stated that
<br />tall developments should remain on the other side of the river. He urged the Council to "think
<br />beyond today, beyond the demands of the greedy Mr. Matthews, and consider the fabric of the
<br />City to be what you are in consideration of, today."
<br />Steve Francis, 2025 Edison Road, South Bend, IN, stated that he is unequivocally in support of
<br />development in South Bend, as he was when he participated in the drawing up of the
<br />Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Francis stated that this process looks nothing like an open participatory
<br />process. He stated, When this went from a project -based zoning variance of some kind to
<br />changing the zoning ordinance, you reset the process. Mr. Francis took issue with the fact that
<br />only one (1) discussion changed the Area Plan Commission's vote from one (1) without a
<br />recommendation to the eight (8) necessary votes to give a favorable recommendation. He warned
<br />that the Council would have less ground with which to say no to developers on account of height,
<br />going forward. He urged the Council to consider deeply the potential consequences of making
<br />this change to the ordinance.
<br />Michael Lykoudis, 17583 Ironstone Drive, South Bend, IN, stated that he has been part of the
<br />process of envisioning South Bend for the past twenty -five (25) years and that he has seen it
<br />through its many changes. Mr. Lykoudis stated, Cities are not food. They are cities. We live in
<br />them, and we don't treat them like we treat food. Mr. Lykoudis pointed out that there has been
<br />no marketing or architectural feasibility studies done for the Commerce Center PUD that this
<br />amendment opens the door for. He stated that these studies need to be done before the project
<br />goes ahead, and that the developer has in the past demonstrated a sensitivity to the character of
<br />the City, but with smaller projects, on a scale that resonates with South Bend's vision. He
<br />concluded, I would like to urge you, the Council and the City, to work with the developer to set
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