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REGULAR MEETING September 25, 2017
<br /> Councilmember John Voorde stated,As you'll hear from the Area Plan Commission, this was
<br /> given a favorable recommendation to Council with two (2) written commitments. With
<br /> discussions with Councilmembers after this afternoon's committee meeting, there were, I think,
<br /> three (3)more commitments the developer was willing to put in writing, and that we will be
<br /> considering in our whole package tonight.
<br /> Angela Smith, Area Plan Commission, with offices on the 11th Floor of the County-City
<br /> Building, South Bend, IN, served as the presenter of this bill. Ms. Smith stated, The petitioner is
<br /> seeking to rezone the property highlighted here to SF2, Single-Family and Two (2)-Family
<br /> District. The property in question is bordered by office buffer—a small office to the north—and
<br /> a single-family home zoned SF I. To the east, west, and south are single-family homes zoned
<br /> SF I. The site, as you can see here in this illustration, is now a vacant site. There's also a portion
<br /> of the property that includes a single-family home. This is similar to a bill that was brought to
<br /> you earlier this year that included just a portion of the property. This bill was passed with an
<br /> override—the other one (1)would be withdrawn. It now includes additional property that was
<br /> not in the previous petition before you. The site that you see on the screen here was presented to
<br /> the Area Plan Commission on August 15th, 2017. There was a public hearing held at that time.
<br /> After the public hearing was closed,the Area Plan Commission, in consultation with the
<br /> petitioner, agreed to table the petition until the September meeting to allow the petitioner time to
<br /> meet with the neighborhood organization. When they came back before the Area Plan
<br /> Commission at the September 19th, 2017 meeting, the public hearing had already been closed.
<br /> There was an opportunity, however, for the petitioner to present the revised site plan that you see
<br /> on the screen here to the Area Plan Commission. The revisions include reducing the number of
<br /> units by four(4). The petition in front of you today contains twenty-six (26) single-family
<br /> homes: two (2) that face Ironwood, two (2)that face Rosemary, with the remaining units
<br /> centered around a pocket park—so, what they call a"pocket neighborhood"—in the interior
<br /> portion of the site. Included here is a colored landscape graphic to help understand the spaces in
<br /> here. This comes to you from the Area Plan Commission with a favorable recommendation
<br /> subject to two (2) written commitments that were placed on there, one (1) being that properties
<br /> adjacent to Ironwood and Rosemary shall have front doors and entryways that interact with the
<br /> public street; and,two (2),the total number of homes on the site shall not exceed twenty-six (26).
<br /> As Mr. Davis and Mr. Voorde indicated, afterwards there were three (3) additional written
<br /> commitments that were discussed and agreed to by the petitioner, which I will let them address.
<br /> The written commitment form has been presented to the Council in which the ordinance would
<br /> be passed, subject to the Exhibit A as shown, and the rezoning petition, if passed, would not be
<br /> mapped until those were recorded and fully executed.
<br /> Ms. Smith continued, So,this comes to you, as I mentioned,with a favorable recommendation.
<br /> Rezoning the property to SF2, Single-Family and Two (2)-Family District, will allow for in-fill
<br /> housing on the large residential lot where services are already available. The urban residential
<br /> lots will offer a variety of housing options compatible with the neighborhood.
<br /> Councilmember Oliver Davis asked, In terms of what you talked about—the one (1) that's going
<br /> to be withdrawn pending the outcome of tonight's vote, how does that withdrawal process take
<br /> place?
<br /> Ms. Smith responded, The petitioner would submit a letter to the park asking for that bill to be
<br /> withdrawn, and then, I believe, the Council will take action to withdraw it formally.
<br /> Councilmember Davis asked, So,that will not be withdrawn, then,tonight?
<br /> Ms. Smith responded,No, I don't think they were allowed to submit it, yet. So, I think the proper
<br /> action would be for them to submit a letter after this has received action.
<br /> Councilmember Davis responded, I appreciate that understanding.
<br /> Mike Danch, Danch, Harner& Associates, Inc., 1643 Commerce Drive, South Bend, IN, served
<br /> on behalf of the petitioner of this bill. Mr. Danch stated, Mr. Pat Matthews and Mr. Tom Trager
<br /> are here this evening. They are the developers of this particular site. As Angela had mentioned,
<br /> what we are asking the Council to do this evening is to take a property that is owned by the
<br /> developers on Rosemary and Ironwood—it takes in approximately three-and-a-half(3 '/2) acres
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