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11-14-05 Council Meeting Minutes
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11-14-05 Council Meeting Minutes
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City Council - City Clerk
City Counci - Date
11/14/2005
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REGULAR MEETINGNOVEMBER 14, 2005 <br />the current zoning of the neighborhood and usage of the property. They continued to <br />operate as they had been doing, in open violation of zoning and in disregard of the <br />Neighborhood Organization. Another point of concern worth noting is the manner in <br />which the Catholic Worker group entered the neighborhood. Any reputable organization <br />would have conducted a study on the needs of the community within which it hopes to <br />operate. It would have garnished neighborhood support before moving into a <br />neighborhood. It would have examined or even considered zoning laws for the property. <br />The Catholic Worker group did none of the things that are considered responsible <br />conduct for a reputable public entity. After purchasing 1126 West Washington, they <br />furthermore rented two other neighboring properties on the same street and purchased the <br />property on Tomas Street knowingly violating the zoning designations of all four <br />properties. This behavior, as laudable as their outreach to the homeless may be, is a <br />public show of disrespect for the neighbors of the near west side and to the City’s laws. <br />As professionals in the legal, education, and social service sectors, having supported <br />many good community organizations and outreach to the poor and vulnerable in our <br />community, we have little regard for organizations, as laudable as their intentions may <br />be, that openly show disrespect for the law and systems of accountability. Regarding yet <br />another point of contention, “religious liberty” should not be used as an excuse for a <br />group or organization to do what it wants to do outside of the law. Laudable religious <br />organizations (Catholic Charities, Catholic Relief Services, Hope Rescue Mission, <br />Lutheran Services, etc.) have to and do conduct their mission in compliance with the law. <br />The Peter Claver Catholic Worker group should not be an exception. Catholic Worker <br />houses of hospitality exist in many forms across the nation. The current single family <br />zoning designation of the 1126 West Washington property does not restrict members of <br />the group to practice their religious convictions of providing hospitality to the homeless. <br />It is entirely legal that one Catholic Worker “staff” member own a single family zoned <br />home and offer hospitality to one other unrelated guest or family unit. They know <br />families across the City of South Bend who often takes in a homeless single woman <br />family in need, carrying out their “religious convictions”, and doing so within the <br />confines of the law. Furthermore, it would be inaccurate for the Catholic Worker group <br />to allege that they are being discriminated against should their request for change in <br />zoning and special exemption be denied. With the City of South Bend, they could find <br />properly zoned facilities to purchase, in which they could continue their outreach to the <br />homeless in a safe and appropriate manner. A change in zoning for the property is not in <br />the best interest of the neighborhood or the City of South Bend. The City has spent a lot <br />of taxpayers’ dollars investing in this particular area of the City. A Change in zoning <br />would open the door for others to seek zoning changes, to establish boarding houses and <br />other inappropriate institutional uses, in a residential area. A change in zoning for would <br />open the door for others to seek zoning changes, to establish boarding houses and other <br />inappropriate institutional uses, in a residential area. A change in zoning for the property <br />in question would set a precedent that would undo the years of work and money invested. <br />Therefore, they cannot and do not support the application for a change in zoning and <br />special exemption for which the Peter Claver Catholic Worker group has recently <br />applied. Zoning has been and is a tool to achieve stability for our neighborhood. Zoning <br />has been central to the improvements in the neighborhood. There is no need for an <br />exception or variance to the genera trend and usage (single-family zoning designation) of <br />the neighborhood. The urged the Mayor and Council Members of the City of South <br />Bend, to demonstrate their commitment to this neighborhood and to building strong and <br />healthy neighborhoods throughout the City. Uphold the City’s own current zoning laws <br />and deny the Peter Claver Catholic Worker’s application for zoning change and request <br />for special exemption on 1126 West Washington Street. <br />th <br />The Honorable Mayor Stephen Luecke, 14 Floor County-City Building, 227 W. <br />Jefferson Boulevard, South Bend, Indiana, stated that the issue of the Catholic Worker <br />Home implies a necessity of conformity. Mayor Luecke stated that he supports the City <br />of South Bend Zoning Ordinance and the single-family zoning that has been established <br />in the northwest neighborhood. Mayor Luecke stated that the City of South Bend will <br />work with the Catholic Worker to try to resolve the issues at hand. <br />Mr. David Hurley, 803 Ashland Avenue, South Bend, Indiana, advised that he was the <br />executive director of a homeless shelter on the east coast. He understands that the quality <br />20 <br /> <br />
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