05-24-99 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING MAY 24. 1999 ten thousand (10,000) going through the intersection of Mayflower and Western. The proposed new store would cost approximately two million dollars ($2,000,000.00) and employ twenty -seven (27) employees with an annual payroll of $650,000.00. He noted that CVS does not plan to have this store open twenty -four (24) hours a day and that only one (1) large semi -truck per week would make deliveries during business hours. The site currently has three (3) accesses to Western Avenue but it is proposed that one (1) of those accesses would be utilized. In conclusion, Mr. Zappia reminded members of the Council that the Area Plan Commission gave this rezoning a favorable recommendation and it is unfortunate that the owner of the Belleville Shopping Center is leading the remonstrance against this project. Mr. Michael Danch, Peirce & Associates, 3231 Sugar Maple Court, South Bend, Indiana, informed the Council that his firm has been hired by CVS. He presented to the Council a reduced site plan and noted that he has been working with the staff of the Community & Economic Development Department as well as Area Plan in trying to coordinate the City's plan with CV S's plan. They came back with two (2) possible options from consultants and staff. One of the recommendations was to place the building up at the northeast corner of the site with delivery at the northeast corner off of Sheridan with the drive thru on the south side. CVS had several conflicts with this plan as it would not accommodate the size of the building that CVS wanted to place at that site. Option two is the one that was selected and a site plan was developed from that. In this plan the building was moved closer to Western Avenue with one entrance door to CVS located on the northeast corner. Parking would be along Western and Sheridan. Mr. Danch again stated that it was their understanding that this was to be part of a commercial node. He noted that they worked with the City to determine what alleys to vacate and where the new proposed alley would be located. Mr. Danch further noted that they did meet with the Western Avenue Business Association and did not get any negative comments. Also, they worked with the City and prepared envelopes for a mailing to residents who lived greater than three hundred feet (300') informing them of a meeting at Harrison School on May 11th at which time the consultants plan would be discussed as well as this project. No one at that meeting made any comments about the CVS project. In conclusion, Mr. Danch stated that they believed that they met all the City's concerns. At this time he presented a petition signed by residents who were in favor of this project as well as a diagram indicating the residents in favor of the project. This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. The following individuals spoke in favor of the rezoning: Mr. Gary Mentag, 4014 Western Avenue, South Bend, Indiana, owner of Herb's Towing Company informed the Council that he has agreed to sell his property to CVS. He stated that misrepresentations are going through the neighborhood indicating that the store would be open twenty -four (24) hours a day, that the truck traffic would be bad and that the lighting would be a problem. He noted that Ms. Patty Holston, 413 South Albert Street, South Bend, Indiana, informed him that someone came to her house and wanted her to sign against the project which she supports. As Ms. Holston could not be present tonight, Mr. Mentag read a letter from Ms. Holston indicating her support. Mr. Ken McKinney, 418 South Albert Street, South Bend, Indiana, addressed the Council and stated that he is in support of the project and has signed the petition. Mr. Armand Paluzzi, 4102 Western Avenue, South Bend, Indiana, informed the Council that he attended meetings on January 21, 1999 and again on May 11, 1999, regarding the corridor plan and the whole purpose of the plan is to beautify the City. He noted that CVS intends to spend two million dollars ($2,000,000.00) for a beautiful facility on that particular corner. Mr. John Gault, 748 Country Club Lane, South Bend, Indiana, informed the Council that he is the owner of the building at the corner of Western and Sheridan that CVS plans to purchase. He stated that he has tried to keep the building alive with tenants but it has been hard. CVS coming to this location is the closest they can come to getting a nice business in that area. He noted that he has had