09-25-06 Zoning & Annexation - Laserfiche WebLink

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September 25, 2006 Zoning and Annexation Committee Meeting Minutes Page 3 Council Member Dieter made a motion, seconded by Council Member Kirsits that Substitute Bill No. 46-06 be recommended unfavorably to Council, noting that there was "too much bureaucratic red tape involved". Council Member Kirsits stated that perhaps special event parking could be looked into as a compromise The motion to recommend unfavorably was then retracted. Following discussion., Council Member Kirsits then made a motion, seconded by City Member Talley that Substitute Bill No. 46-06 be continued until the Council meeting of November 27r . The motion passed, Miscellaneous Business: Council Member Dieter provided a written statement on South Bend's Greenhouses and Conservatories (copy attached}. Catherine Hostetler, Director of Historic Preservation, noted that Mr. Richard Diesel would be giving a lecture today. She noted that there is a warranty deed Hating that the property in question can only be used for park purposes and if it is not so used it would revert to St. Joseph County. Mr. Richard Diesel stated that overall the structures are in good shape, however there problems with some of the windows and pexi-glass in areas. He does not see anything that warrants tearing down the buildings. Since 1985, he has been renovating buildings, many of them historic, in New York and Detroit. Botanical gardens are in demand and the type of architecture involved in the local buildings will "never be produced again. The units are very valuable". Repairs in the range of $50,Q00 to $75,000 are foreseen. Sealing and weather-proofing must take place so that the buildings are weather-tight and efficient. He noted that cypress wood never rots. The buildings house very rare plants with some of the plants be older than fifty (50) years. Those plants cannot be moved and should not be moved. In response to questions from Council Members Kelly and Dieter, Mr. Diesel stated that the repairs would be one-time in nature and that he would provide his report in writing as soon as it is ready. He added that the boilers do not work at the same time and suggested that in the very cold weather one be used as a back-up. The new one is in "great shape". In response to a question from Council Member Pfeifer, Mr. Diesel stated that there are no major problems with the roof.