10-14-74 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 14, 1974 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING (CONTINUED) mansard roofs. Off - street parking would be provided for 32 vehicles with the entrance on the Cu Street side. He indicated that this was not public housing. Mrs. Thomas Bell, 922 Roosevelt Street, indicated that Cushing Street was an unpaved, dead -end street: She wondered if Mr. Batteast was planning on paving Cushing Street, and Mr. Batteast indicated that he was not. Mrs. Bell talked about the problem with the streets washing out and the increased traffic. She felt the area was too small for that large an amount of residents. Mr. Doyle indicated that adequate parking would be provided for the apartment units. Councilman Miller wondered about the large tract of land east of the area in question, and Mr. Doyle indicates that the land was undeveloped. Councilman Miller wondered who owned the property, and Mrs. Bell stated that the area would be a parking lot for the new Brown Middle School. She mentioned that there were also some new condominiums being constructed in that area. Councilman Miller felt the zoning questions before the Council were always unanswerable. He felt the city was going to be faced with more and more housing needs; however, he felt the rezoning being considered was infringing upon the single- family area. Councilman Serge indicated that he had a petition against the rezoning. Councilman Parent asked if a representative from the Area Plan Commission could summarize the commission's findings. Mr. Ralph Stonebraker, Assistant Director of the Area Plan Commission, indicated that the commission felt the rezoning was not consistent with the land -use plan. The subject property had been designated as a residential, low density area. Council President Nemeth asked when the land -use plan was developed. He wondered if it had ever been amended. Mr. Stonebraker stated that the plan was developed in 1967. He indicated that there have been no amendments to the plan, and he admitted that the plan had never been officially adopted by the Area Plan Commission but was used as a policy- making plan. Council President Nemeth wondered if the new condominiums were merely speculation, and Mr. Stonebraker indicated tha the condominiums definitely would be constructed. Council President Nemeth wondered how the Area Plan Commission could approve condominiums in the area and then vote against Mr. Batteast's reques for multiple - family dwelling units. Mr. Stonebraker stated that it was a good question, but he did not know the answer. Council President Nemeth asked what was on the site at the current time, and Mr. Stonebraker indicated that the land was a vacant and wooded area. Mr. Thomas Bell, 922 Roosevelt Street, referred to the overhead projector and indicated that Cushing Street was the only street for the whole residential area that came out to Riverside. He stated that he did not know how the buses for the new middle school would come in. Councilman Miller indicated that, if the area was left undeveloped, there could be problems with the school children loitering in the area. Council President Nemeth wondered who the developer was for the condominiums, and Mr. Stonebraker indicated that he was not sure. Council President Nemeth stated that it was probably not a small businessman, and Mr. Stonebraker agreed. Councilman Kopczynski asked Councilman Serge's opinion regarding the proposed rezoning. Councilman Serge indicated that the people in the area were against the rezoning, and he would support their wishes. Councilman Serge made a motion that the ordinance be recommended unfavorably to the Council, seconded by Councilman Szymkowiak. The motion carried. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING THE SUM OF $19,869.57 FROM THE CUMULATIVE SEWER BUILDING AND SINKING FUND (Oak Park - Edison Road sanitary sewers). This being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above ordinance, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Mr. David Wells, Manager of the Bureau of Design and Administration, made the presentation for the ordinance. He explained that sanitary sewers were installed on Edison Road and Oak Park Drive from Ironwood to about three blocks west of Ironwood. He indicated that this installation was part of the overall plan to provide sewers to the residents of the city under the Barrett Law. Council President Nemeth asked when the project was completed, and Mr. Wells stated that it was completed about one month ago. Councilman Taylor made a''motion that the ordinance be recommended favorably to the Council, seconded by Councilman Kopczynski. The motion carried. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $600.00 FROM THE PARKING METER FUND TO ACCOUNT 430.0, "REPAIR PARTS ", WITHIN THE PARKING METER DEPARTMENT, CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA. This being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above ordinance, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Mr. Walter Lantz, Deputy Controller, made the presentation for the ordinance. He explained that the ordinance was necessitated because of the increase in vandalism to the parking meters. Councilman Kopczynski wondered if the administration was taking any special steps to correct the vandalism in the area of the parking meters. Mr. Lantz indicated that the meters were being wathed and all damages were reported by the Traffic Department. Councilman Kopczynski wondered if the Traffic Department was finding the damaged meters before the Police Department was, and Mr. Lantz indicated that both departments were reporting the vandalism. Mr. James Barcome, City Controller, indicated that there has been some surveillance on the parking meters and it has proved successful. He stated that, over a period of two years, damaged meters must be repaired. Councilman Kopczynski felt the city should be reimbursed by the vandals for the damages, and Mr. Barcome agreed, stating that the Legal Department was involved in that aspect. He was hopeful that, when the bond obligations were met, the parking meters could be eliminated. Councilman Miller stated that there were economic reasons for the parking meters, and he felt many other things could be done without eliminating parking meters to help the downtown area survive. Councilman Serge made a motion that the ordinance be recommended favorably to the Council, seconded by Councilman Kopczynski. The motion carried. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE TRANSFERRING $1,000.00 FROM ACCOUNT 630.0, "P.E.R.F. ", TO ACCOUNT 242.0, "PUBLICATION OF LEGAL NOTICES ", BOTH ACCOUNTS BEING WITHIN THE CONTROLLER'S BUDGET OF THE GENERAL FUND OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA.