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REGULAR MEETING JUNE 23, 2008 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />stated that it is the desire and request that the petition site be rezoned from St. Joseph <br />County zoning classification: R – Single Family Residential to City of South Bend <br />zoning classification CB Community Business District to allow for <br />commercial/restaurant. The restaurant is to be approximately 1,800 square feet and a <br />retail sales area of approximately 2,700 square feet. Mr. Feeney stated that they will tie <br />into the easement that Sonic has provided in their plat to the north that is something that <br />can be handled. That tie in point would be immediately to the northwest of the property, <br />and can be easily done. Mr. Feeney stated that the owners will provide public sidewalks <br />as requested. <br /> <br />This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents <br />and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dieter asked what business would be going into the site. <br /> <br />Mr. Feeney stated that at this time he did not have names of any businesses or restaurants. <br /> <br />Councilmember Rouse questioned the heavy traffic that has been created by the new <br />restaurant Sonic. <br /> <br />Mr. Feeney advised that he observed the traffic on a Friday night. Mr. Feeney stated that <br />it was phenomenon, nothing less than a true phenomenon, on the amount of traffic that <br />has been created by the new restaurant Sonic. He stated that there were people lined up <br />and parking across Portage Road to get to the new restaurant. Mr. Feeney stated that <br />Sonic had the foresight to hire security to address the traffic. He stated that location is <br />the first to open in St. Joseph County and it is truly a success. The bottom line is that <br />Sonic has been able to market and fill the apparent need for their food services. Mr. <br />Feeney stated that he sees this as a potentially a short term situation. <br /> <br />Councilmember Henry Davis questioned whether Portage Road needs to be widened at <br />that location. <br /> <br />Mr. Feeney stated that at some point the City is going to have to widen that strip of <br />Portage relatively soon. That particular section of Portage Road is a section that he is <br />very familiar with and there is little room for anything other than high speed traffic at this <br />point, going both north and south and only being two lanes is very dangerous. <br /> <br />Councilmember Henry Davis stated that he would not be voting in favor of this bill. He <br />stated that he was not even familiar with the location of this property. Councilmember <br />Davis stated that the inner-city needs more places to shop and eat and that resources <br />should be allocated for those areas. He advised that there are citizens that don’t have the <br />resources to shop outside of the city and that they should focus on those issues. <br /> <br />Mr. Feeney advised that this particular piece of property is surrounded by parcels that <br />have been annexed into the city and this piece is the only one left in the county. Mr. <br />Feeney stated that this is the reason for the annexation/rezoning to bring the final piece of <br />land into the City of South Bend. <br /> <br />There being no one present wishing to speak either in favor of or in opposition to this bill, <br />Councilmember White made a motion for favorable recommendation to full Council <br />concerning this bill. Councilmember Oliver Davis seconded the motion which carried by <br />a voice vote of seven (7) ayes and one (1) nay (Councilmember Henry Davis.) <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> 12 <br /> <br />