07-24-17 Zoning and Annexation - Laserfiche WebLink

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Committeemember Ferlic made a motion to send Bill No. 34-17 to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. Committeemember John Voorde seconded the motion which carried unanimously by a voice vote of four(4) ayes. Bill No. 40-17- Indoor Storage Text Amendment Ms. Smith stated, Before you is a text amendment to add a new use to the South Bend Zoning Ordinance. We already have many self-storage warehouses but in recent years we have had instances where developers have wanted to reuse vacant retail spaces that have all the necessities for storage units. We don't have anything in our ordinance that addresses that right now and we have been treating them like mini self-storage warehouses. We would then run into a conflict where they can't also have retail in the same complex. There was a PUD, Planned Unit Development, at the corner of McKinley and Hickory that faced this problem. We are trying to move away from the use of PUDs and this is a solution that we think will be valuable going forward. The text amendment before you creates and defines that use and allows for it within the CB, CBD, and GB Districts. They are already allowed in the LI, Light Industrial Districts. It also incorporates some development standards. The intent is to maintain the retail character of the district they are in. This comes to you from the Area Plan Commission with a favorable recommendation. Modifying the zoning ordinance to allow for this adaptive reuse of large vacant commercial structures for the creation of conveniently placed new storage facilities will promote the stability and vibrancy of the Commercial Districts within the City. Committee Chair Davis opened the floor to questions from the Committee or Councilmembers for the petitioner. There were none. Committee Chair Davis stated, I am one (1) of the cosponsors of this legislation. As it was presented, the Area Plan Commission was in favor of this. We have many situations that this could apply to. Committeemember Broden stated, I think this is one (1) of those `vacant-to-value' situations, but on steroids. We have the opportunity to put back into use and recycle old buildings for new purposes. Obviously there are some environmental benefits that are of interest to me and my support of the legislation. We are trying to meet a basic service for individuals but this is a possibility across all the districts. From a developer's standpoint,the cost is greatly reduced by repurposing these buildings and there is also a built-in market. The buildings are right in the middle of the activity of the given market. I want to thank the Area Plan Commission and the Office of Community Investment. Committee Chair Davis then opened the floor to members of the public wishing to speak in favor of or in opposition to the legislation. Mike Divita, Office of Community Investment with offices on the 14th floor of the County-City Building, stated, As Councilmember Broden pointed out,we worked closely with the Area Plan Commission staff. We think this change will offer property owners an economically viable reuse of the building, specifically the big-box and other large structures. With the standards proposed, it really gives flexibility to allow buildings to shift to and from self-storage use as the market dictates. 3