04-25-05 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING APRIL 25,2005 Eagen stated that the Chamber of Commerce of St. Joseph County urges the Council to support this bill. Ms. Donna Chamblee, 51194 Enchanted Oak Court, South Bend, Indiana supports Bill No. 9-05. The Portage Prairie project is a planned community that is well developed. She and her husband Roland, who is the St. Joseph County Health Officer, urge the need for a medical facility and encourage the neighbors and Council to get on board with this project. Mr. Andrew Nemeth, 922 E. Jefferson Boulevard, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he attended one of the design charettes and stated that this is a wonderful project. Mr. Nemeth encouraged the Council’s favorable recommendation. There was no one else present wishing to speak in favor of this bill. The following individuals spoke in opposition to this bill. Ms. Kathie Bieschke, 23777 Adams Road, South Bend, Indiana, advised that she is the Secretary of the German Township Neighborhood Association. She stated that there are four (4) specific merits on which the association believes that this project should be rejected. The first is land use, South Bend’s comprehensive plan designates this area as a reserve industrial growth area, substantial acreage is available in the Oliver area; Studebaker Corridor; Lincolnway Airport Areas; as well as areas in the northwest area that are already equipped with adequate infrastructure such as Cleveland Road, Bendix Drive, Nimtz Parkway, Blackthorn Development and Olive Road areas. It is a fact that primary growth areas have not been fully utilized. Encroaching in a fully residential area is not responsible use when infill to already existing industrial areas as previously discussed is not complete. Gary Phillips, Area Plan, at the March 16, 2005 special meeting, questioned Holladay officials on the need for making another 200 acres of land available at this point in time, in light of “the abundance of undeveloped land in this vicinity including Blackthorn or some of your own industrial parks on the other side of the Toll Road.” The second is concern is traffic and transportation considerations. The concern was brought up at the March 16, 2005 special meeting before the Area Plan Commission, by both Tim Waltz and Gary Phillips, regarding the possible prematurity of the City’s rezoning the acres south of Adams Rd. before an interchange would be secured. The third and fourth of specific concerns are intertwined conservation of property value and responsible development and growth. The Holladay proposal shows a lack of clarity in vision. At the Area Plan Commission Meeting on March 16, 2005, John Phair stated that the Waggoner’s were definitely interested in leaving a legacy to the community. They did not want to do something piece meal, this proposal for the fantastic Portage Prairie Community is being implemented in piece meal phases in a ten (10) to fifteen (15) year span dependent on zoning policies and business cycles which the developer cannot control or guarantee. In the same meeting before the Area Plan Commission, Senior Land Use Consultant Gene Valanzano with Baker & Daniels has brought forth a concept use by Holladay Properties known as the alternate development standards. Wherein a petition could be proposed for a change in any of the areas