12/10/07 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING DECEMBER 10, 2007 RESOLVE INTO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE At 7:45 p.m. Councilmember Varner made a motion to resolve into the Committee of the Whole. Councilmember Dieter seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes. Councilmember White, Chairperson, Committee of the Whole, presiding. Councilmember White explained the procedures to be followed for tonight's meeting in accordance with Article 1, Section 2-ll of the South Bend Municipal Code. Councilmember White stated that a brochure may be found on the railing in the Council Chambers explaining those procedures. PUBLIC HEARINGS BILL NO. 70-07 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 623 S. ST. JOSEPH STREET, COUNCILMANIC DISTRICT 2, IN THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA Mr. Mark Lyons, Staff Member, Area Plan Commission, 11th Floor County-City Building, South Bend, Indiana, presented the report from the Area Plan Commission. Mr. Lyons advised that the petitioners are requesting a zone change from SF2 Single Family and Two Family District to O Office District to allow for the Bureau of Motor Vehicles Branch Office. He stated that the site is approximately 1.17 acres. The petitioner is proposing a 7,000 square foot office building. The proposed building is 27 feet in height. The building will cover approximately 14% of the site. Parking and drives will cover an additional 52% of site. The remaining 34% will consist of open space and landscaping. There are 73 proposed parking spaces for the development. The site has one access point on St. Joseph Street. He noted that the Commission held a public hearing on Tuesday, November 20, 2007 and sends this bill to the Council with a favorable recommendation. Mr. Lyons further noted that the office zoning and its associated use would help buffer the residential area to the east from the mixed use area to the west. The required landscaping and residential bufferyard should provide an acceptable buffer between the proposed development and the adjacent residential area. Mr. Troy Teew, 8055 Windham Lake Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana, made the presentation for this bill. Mr. Terew advised that he is requesting a zone change from SF2 Single Family and Two Family District to O Office District to allow for the Bureau of Motor Vehicles Branch Office. Mr. Terew reiterated that the site has one access point on St. Joseph Street to minimize traffic and that there will be landscaping to buffer the adjacent residential area. This being the time heretofore set for Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. There being no one present wishing to speak to the Council either in favor of or in opposition to this bill, Councilmember Dieter made a motion for favorable recommendation to full Council concerning this bill. Councilmember Kuspa seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes. BILL NO. 71-07 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AMENDING CHAPTER 4, ARTICLE IV, SECTION 4-30, TITLED HOTELS AND MOTELS, OF THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE