06-27-11 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING JUNE 27, 2011 brought up earlier. He noted that the zoning is single family, and by joining the two homes together it will allow for a two family dwelling in a “SF2” District, making them a duplex which the petitioner believes is the highest and best use of the property and will derive the most profit. He stated that this is something that will bring tax dollars to South Bend, because they will spend money on construction which will increase the assessment and increase the tax revenue dollars that will go into it as long as this is an income producing property. He noted that there will be more money going into CEDIT that is collected at the State Level and comes back to the city again for more economic development. He asked the Council to support this bill for that purpose and not to think of it as being against students, because it is single-family now and will still be single- family, voting for this doesn’t mean that its voting for any multi-family, it doesn’t mean that it would allow for more than two persons in any one dwelling. He stated that voting for this is to accommodate the space that the renters would like for this type of area, it’s accommodating the renters, and it’s inviting people to come back into the community, to be in downtown South Bend and to be in this area, the near northeast neighborhood. He stated that is what he would like to Council to keep in mind when voting on this bill. A Public Hearing was held on the Resolution at this time. The following individuals spoke in favor of this bill. Tony Trinca, 139 Camden, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he was present at the Zoning & Annexation Committee meeting earlier this afternoon and heard from the petitioner and what he is requesting is logical by combining the two homes. He urged the Council favorable consideration. Robert Fultz, 1008 Talbot, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he is in favor of this bill. Mr. Fultz stated that Mr. Bumbaca has done great things in the neighborhood in terms of revitalizing properties that have sat vacant and abandoned. He urged the Council’s favorable consideration. Lenore Murray, 1008 Talbot Street, South Bend, Indiana, stated that Mr. Bumbaca has been a great asset to the neighborhood. He has renovated properties in the near northeast neighborhood using his own money and not asking the city for any financing. She asked the Council to vote in favor of this bill. Cheryl Osborne, 1310 Howard Street, South Bend, stated that she is in favor of this bill. She stated that Mr. Bumbaca is bringing the neighborhood back and revitalizing the area. She urged the Council’s favorable support. The following individuals spoke in opposition: Marguerite Taylor, 714 E. Corby, South Bend, Indiana, stated that she is speaking tonight as the Vice-President of the Northeast Neighborhood Council. Ms. Taylor advised that the Northeast Neighborhood Council voted against this project. She stated that she also belongs to the NNRO (Northeast Neighborhood Revitalization Organization) and that they looked at this project and when you looked at the big picture and the project there are absolutely no duplexes on Talbot Street. She stated that everyone may think that Mr. Bumbaca is bringing up their neighborhood, but in fact, there are long term plans for that neighborhood. She stated that Burns, Georgiana, and Duey are what is called the “triangle” that is directly across the street and well into development in conjunction with Eddy Street Commons. The NNRO is now looking into Howard, Talbot and Duey to do some long range plans as well. She stated that at one time it was a horrible neighborhood; a police officer’s was shot and killed on Talbot. She stated that the entire neighborhood is better and cannot say that it is because of Mr. Bumbaca because he really did not. She noted that at the committee meeting this afternoon the petitioner brought up the group home on the corner of Turnock and Corby. She stated that this property does not compare. The home is a group home and was zoned for that use and built for that use a group residence. Ms. Taylor stated that she is having a real hard time with petition and the petitioner because they called Councilmember Puzzello a liar. She stated that she cannot ever remember anyone doing something like that at a committee 15