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REGULAR MEETING September 25, 2017
<br /> Samuel Brown, 222 East Navarre Street, South Bend, IN, urged the Council to vote in favor of
<br /> the project.
<br /> Steve Smith, Irish Realty, 4404 Technology Drive, South Bend, IN, stated that he is in favor of
<br /> high-density development in South Bend and of this project. Mr. Smith stated, I think you guys
<br /> should approve this tonight, and let's see more like it.
<br /> Emily Sevedra, 1612 Church Hill Drive, South Bend, IN, stated that this project will help attract
<br /> people to the City and help keep residents in the City. Ms. Sevedra stated, The growth and
<br /> redevelopment adjacent to Notre Dame in the past ten (10) years has created a strong desire for
<br /> many to live closer to Notre Dame. This type of pocket neighborhood, I feel, would appeal to a
<br /> diverse type of buyer.
<br /> Greg Aldridge, 1323 North Ironwood Drive, South Bend, IN, stated that he cannot wait for this
<br /> project to get started. Mr. Aldridge stated, There will be so many good things. I spent a weekend
<br /> in Annapolis, and there are neighborhoods just like this everywhere you turn. That city is just
<br /> Construction City—I can't wait 'til South Bend becomes that.
<br /> Those from the public wishing to speak in opposition to this bill:
<br /> S.J. Szabo, with offices on Mishawaka Avenue, South Bend, IN, stated, This is not the place for
<br /> something like this. It's wrong for the neighbors and it's just too bloody elitist to be acceptable
<br /> as a reasonable development in that fine, quiet, little neighborhood that was minding its own
<br /> business before money came along; greed came along.
<br /> Michael Harry, 23289 Grove Street, South Bend, IN, stated that he is in favor of this project but
<br /> feels that this location is wrong for it. Mr. Harry stated, This needs to be put into action in
<br /> different areas that aren't as highly trafficked. That's my main concern.
<br /> Sue Kesim, 4022 Kennedy Drive, South Bend, IN, stated that the Council needs to create a new
<br /> ordinance that specifically deals with the rules and guidelines for this new type of development.
<br /> James Galvas, 2101 Peachtree Lane, South Bend, IN, stated, I'm going to now have what I call
<br /> "the Berlin Wall." When I look north, all I'm going to see is all long, white fence. Mr. Galvas
<br /> asked questions regarding the dimensions of the proposed two (2) stall garages, which are set to
<br /> be twenty-two (22) feet wide and thirty (30) feet long—as opposed to 24 x 24—as well as
<br /> regarding whether or not electricity would be run underground or overground for the
<br /> neighborhood.
<br /> Mr. Mathews returned to the podium for a rebuttal. Mr. Matthews, addressing the issue of fire
<br /> protection, stated that the homes in the development are ten (10) feet apart, and therefore are not
<br /> in violation of fire code. Mr. Matthews stated, As this plan gets approved, it will also be vetted
<br /> by the Fire Department to make sure that there's proper access for the fire trucks to make the
<br /> rounds through the neighborhood and have access to all the properties. One (1) of the questions
<br /> that came up was that this wouldn't be a great neighbor. This will be a great neighbor to the
<br /> neighboring association, or a part of the neighborhood association. Each member will become an
<br /> adjunct member of the greater neighborhood association—that, by the way, has not been formed
<br /> yet. So, we will have a proper neighborhood association for this property but the greater
<br /> neighborhood association has not been formed yet, and, when that happens, we'll become a
<br /> member of that also. Mr. Matthews, addressing traffic, stated that there are 15,000 cars that
<br /> travel daily along Ironwood and that it is very likely that ninety percent (90%) of the traffic out
<br /> of the neighborhood would exit onto Ironwood. Regarding property taxes, Mr. Matthews stated
<br /> that there are formulas in place to prevent the rise of property taxes of adjacent property owners.
<br /> Regarding the garage, Mr. Matthews stated, An overhead door for two (2) cars is sixteen(16)
<br /> feet. A standard garage might be 20 x 20. We know this because we've built hundreds of them.
<br /> Councilmember Davis asked for the dimensions of Mr. Matthews' garages.
<br /> Mr. Matthews responded, They will be 22 x 22.
<br /> Councilmember Davis asked, So, yours are larger than the standard ones?
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