05-24-99 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING MAY 24, 1999 the opportunity to have his building used for a restaurant or a pool hall but has chosen not to do so. However, as a business owner he will have to rent it to someone. Mr. Tom Sheridan, 4123 Western Avenue, South Bend, Indiana, indicated that he is the owner of the restaurant across the street and has been at that location for thirty (30) years and he is in favor of this new business on Western Avenue. Ms. Loretta Spychalski, 413 South Sheridan, South Bend, Indiana, informed the Council that she believed a drug store would be beneficial for the neighborhood. Mr. Jeff Nykos, representing the ZB Falcons, 323 South Sheridan Street, South Bend, Indiana, indicated that this Polish organization has been around for thirty plus (30 +) years and that anything on Western Avenue at this point is beneficial to the area. He submitted a petition with eighty -one (8 1) signatures from members of the club welcoming this new company. Ms. Gertrude Nalepinski, 414 South Albert Street, South Bend, Indiana, reminded the Council that she mailed them a letter about this issue and she wanted them to know that she believes the CVS store would be beneficial to the area. Ms. Dianne Lubinski, 614 South Albert, South Bend, Indiana, stated that this drug store would be an enhancement to the property and convenient to residents and she is in favor of the project. Mr. Henry Heritz, 621 South Gladstone, South Bend, Indiana, noted that he has driven down Western Avenue for fourteen (14) years and has seen smaller businesses come and go. He stated that the west side needs anything that will build the corridor to the City and which may spur other economic development. Mr. Kym Orange, 4433 Huron Street, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he moved to the west side in 1983 not because he wanted to but he now lives there by choice. He stated that the pharmacy would be a good addition to the neighborhood. Mr. Todd Moyer, Gushman, Brown and Associates, 250 East 96th Street, Indianapolis, Indiana, informed the Council that his firm is the developer of this project. Mr. Moyer stated that he has spoken to CVS about the Council's concerns regarding the condition of their Lincolnway West store and was assured that the property will be brought up to standards within two (2) weeks. Mr. Moyer informed the Council that CVS would like to have a free standing store at the corner of Sheridan and Western that would employ one (1) or two (2) pharmacists and four (4) or five (5) employees in addition to the current staff. By owning the store, CVS is responsible for the store. People no longer want to travel to shopping centers. Mr. Moyer reiterated that there would be one major semi -truck delivery per week that will come off of Western Avenue and will not go through the neighborhood. However, there will be deliveries made by smaller delivery trucks. Mr. Moyer noted that Mr. Becker would support the CVS project if they stayed in his center. CVS is moving out of shopping centers. Mr. Becker has also made an offer to CVS which includes trading properties for the one across the street from the current site. He submitted a fax copy of that offer. He concluded by stating that CVS wants to put in a first class building and provide more retail to that area. The following individual spoke in opposition to the rezoning. Mr. John Ford, Attorney at Law, 211 West Washington Street, South Bend, Indiana, informed the Council that he represents twenty -four (24) residents from the 400 blocks of Sheridan and Albert Street. Mr. Ford submitted a Petition signed by residents against the project. He noted that fifteen (15) of the twenty -four (24) individuals were recently contacted and have asked that their names be removed from the Petition siting various reasons for their recent decision. Mr. Ford presented to the Council photographs of the houses that CVS proposes to purchase and demolish along with photographs of the condition of the CVS store located on Lincolnway West.