08-09-10 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 9, 2010 it was noted at the Area Board of Zoning Appeals that there was no one present from the congregation from Zion United Church of Christ; she stated that it was not that they were not interested, it was that they did not know that the meeting was taking place. She stated that she talked with her predecessor Rev. Girth who noted that he was approached privately about this proposed development and asked if the church parking lot could be used. He indicated that the parking lot was not for use. Rev. Sickelka stated that someone said that the Church only uses their facility once a week. She stated that after reviewing the Church calendar, it was determined that the church was used approximately 28 days during the month. She stated that the congregation was appauld by this project and wanted to go on record stating their feelings. She urged the Council to vote against this proposed bill. Ms. Rita Kopala, 66559 Ivy Road, Lakeville, Indiana, spoke this afternoon against it and is speaking against this bill again tonight. She stated that she went out and counted the number of parking spaces at Howard Park and the South Bend Human Rights Commission and came up with 95. She stated that if this development needed a variance from the required sixty-eight parking spaces to zero and now is asking the Park Department to use their parking lot the least the City could do is ask for some money to cover the cost of using the parking lot at Howard Park. She stated that this is not a very good place for a project like this. Ms. Diane Tyser, 61803 Park, Cassopolis, Michigan, spoke in opposition to this bill. Ms. Tyser stated that she was born and raised in South Bend; she has been a member of Teacher’s Credit Union since she was eighteen years old, and her father was a South Bend Firefighter and is currently an Elder at the Zion United Church of Christ, so she has very strong ties to South Bend. Ms. Tyser questioned when the South Bend Park Board agreed to let Mr. McDonnell use their parking lot. She questioned the hours of operation of the business. She also asked what assurances are going to be given to the Church that their parking lot won’t be used as an overflow and who is going to pick up after the patrons, such as trash and debris that will be left after patronizing the establishment. In Rebuttal, Mr. McDonnell stated that he would just like to say that he stands on his record. He stated that he is a very ethical operator, with high standards of operation. He stated that in 1990 he mortgage his home, his family’s future on opening the LaSalle Grill. He noted that it is a little known fact that the LaSalle Grill has given back in-kind donations approximately $900,000 to various churches, charities and organization across St. Joseph County. He stated that he is still a member of Holy Cross Parish, 12 miles from his home and is a member of the building committee to construct a new parish center. He reiterated that this is not a student bar. He stated that they would be open Saturday through Sunday, lunch and dinner from 11:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. during the week and 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 midnight on weekends. He noted that the seating capacity would be approximately 140 plus an additional 36 in good weather for outdoor seating from approximately May through September. He stated that they have not approached the South Bend Park Department to use their lot. He stated that he operates the LaSalle Grille with zero parking and he asks his patrons to use the Colfax Parking Garage which they reply that they do not want to use the garage. Mr. McDonnell also stated that he urges his patrons not to park in the South Bend Water Works Parking lot. In regards to picking up any debris or trash that might be outside, Mr. McDonnell stated that he would have his maintenance crew clean that up. He stated that is just common sense on the part of the owner. Councilmember Henry Davis asked if the City of South Bend Public Works Department has been contact about the intersection of St. Louis & Jefferson Blvds., because at that intersection the street narrows and he worries about traffic accidents occurring outside this development. Mr. McDonnell stated that the City has talked about contracting Abonmarche Architects to do a realignment study of Jefferson & St. Louis Blvds, to alleviate some of those traffic concerns. 18