06-14-2006 South Bend’s 20 Year Plan Under Public Review

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MACK �. MEDIA RELEASE Wednesday,June 14,2006 10:30 AM Contact: Marco Mariam, Division of Community Development, 235-9475 Pam Meyer, Director, Division of Community Development, 235-5845 South Bend's 20 Year Plan Under Public Review Mayor Stephen J. Luecke joined with members of the South Bend Common Council, Civic Alliance, and South Bend residents to kick off the discussion of the final draft of City Plan, the new 20-year comprehensive plan for South Bend. The final version of the Plan is expected to be completed for approval by the Area Plan Commission in early August, and for adoption by the Council in September. Mayor Luecke urged all members of the community to review the Plan and submit their comments on the draft during the public comment period, from June 5 through July 7. The Mayor also encouraged residents to attend public meetings during the last two weeks of June, where City Plan's priorities for the first five years will be discussed. The kickoff took place on the site of the future Scouting Development and Resource Center of the LaSalle Council of Boy Scouts of America, located adjacent to Fredrickson Park. Noted Mayor Luecke, "This area is an excellent example of what careful, long-term planning can accomplish. The Boy Scout Resource Center, the transformation of Fred Park from a dump site, the Innovation Park @ ND, and new mixed residential and urban retail development adjacent to Notre Dame, are all part of the community's vision that City Plan will help us to accomplish." Mayor Luecke highlighted several specific goals listed in the Plan, including a targeted population growth of 15,000 over 20 years, and an increase in new housing units, from 100 units annually to 300 per year. The Plan also lists targeted employment areas where the City plans to solicit and establish new jobs, and provides a Future Land Use Map to project where growth is most needed and best accommodated. In addition, City Plan establishes new procedures to better measure progress toward these goals, and accountability to ensure achievement of them. It also