04-10-06 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING APRIL 10, 2006 There being no one present wishing to speak to the Council either in favor of or in opposition to this bill, Councilmember Pfeifer made a motion for favorable recommendation to full Council. Councilmember Kirsits seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of seven (7) ayes. BILL NO. 05-06 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1040 AND 1102 WEST WASHINGTON STREET, COUNCILMANIC DISTRICT NO. 2 IN THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA Councilmember Kirsits, Vice-Chairperson, Zoning and Annexation Committee, reported that this committee held a Public Hearing on this bill this afternoon and sends it to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. th Mr. P.J. Thuringer, Staff Member, Area Plan Commission, 11 Floor County-City Building, South Bend, Indiana, presented the report from the Area Plan Commission. Mr. Thuringer advised that the petitioner is requesting a zone change from “SF2” Single and Two Family Residential to “O” Office to allow a museum. On site is the vacant Natatorium zoned “SF2” Single and Two Family Residential. To the north is the vacant Hansel Neighborhood Center which is pending rezoning from “SF2” to “O” Office, an apartment building zoned “MF1” Multifamily, and single family houses zoned “SF2” Single and Two Family Residential. To the east is a funeral home and single-family houses zoned “SF2” Single and Two Family Residential. To the south are single-family houses zoned “SF2” Single and Two Family Residential. To the west are single-family houses zoned “SF2” Single and Two Family Residential. The “O” Office District is established to promote the development of: general office uses and complexes; professional health care uses and complexes; limited public and semi-public uses; and other uses which are generally compatible in physical appearance and service requirements to office uses. The potential for the development of multifamily dwellings is also provided. The site plan shows two city lots totaling approximately 0.5 acres separated by an alley. The museum will be located on the eastern lot reusing the existing 2,000 square foot building with plans to expand it by 600 square feet. The rear pool shed will be removed. The future open space-landscaping on the museum lot will be 65%. The western lot will contain 18 parking spaces. Prior to August 13, 1991, this property was zoned “B” Multifamily Residential. However, with the passage of the West Washington-Chapin Development Area rezoning on August 13, 1991, the property was rezoned to “A” Single Family Residential. The 2004 City zoning map designated this property as “SF2” Single-Family. Washington is a two lane residential street at this location. The site will be served by municipal water and sanitary sewer. The building has been vacant for decades. The Comprehensive Plan: Policy Plan: Goal 3: Objective A: Policy I: Ensure that identifiable neighborhoods have adequate civic meeting space in community centers or equivalent facilities. Goal 3 Objective E: Policy v: Areas that are in poor condition and cannot be revitalized by private market activities only should be subject to renewal activities, including, but not limited to property acquisition and site assembly, environmental assessment and mitigation, infrastructure construction/reconstruction, etc. This rezoning is consistent with these Comprehensive Plan neighborhood policies. The petition area is not designated for any specific use by the Land Use Plan. According to the West Washington – Chapin Development Plan (1991), this area is designated for Single Family Residential. The area is currently a mix of single family and multifamily house. Because of the existing structure, the most desirable use is for a community oriented use such as a museum. The surrounding property values should be conserved with the museum reuse of the vacant building. It is responsible development and growth to rezone a vacant nonconforming building that is unlikely to develop under its current single-family zone. Based on information available prior to the public hearing, the staff recommends that the petition be sent to the Common Council with a favorable recommendation. It is reasonable to rezone to an office zone a vacant nonconforming building that is unlikely to develop under its current single-family zone. The rezoning is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan neighborhood policies to 8