03-23-15 Common Council Meeting Minutes

Home Browse Search

REGULAR MEETING MARCH 23, 2015 taken care of, something needs to be done. Those folks are living in subpar living conditions, I’m asking for your attention in that area. We have another building downtown and nothing is being done. What are the actual jobs that are actually here right now? Mayor Pete responded we have the number of jobs that were announced, of course some materialize a lot sooner. Every time we have 400 jobs that materialize we have 1% that knocks off from the unemployment rate. Councilmember Davis and Mayor Pete discussed the numbers to adjust the unemployment rate and needing 1,600 jobs to get it down to 4.2% Council President Scott – One concern/question from me. I’m glad to see new appointees to the housing authority that you are moving forward with that. The Far Northwest Association has been trying to hold their meetings at LaSalle Landing as the idea place. I think we need to look through the housing authority to allow them to meet there after 5pm. Most of the people in the Neighborhood Association are residents there. I think it is being underutilized. There are things to do for the kids and the elderly, with a volunteer force to help oversee the place while people utilize it. Whatever, we can do to get there would be greatly appreciated. Mayor Pete responded I appreciate you raising that issue, I want to do everything we can, and hopefully we can resolve that. RESOLVE INTO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE At 8:17 p.m. Councilmember Oliver made a motion to resolve into the Committee of the Whole. Councilmember Gavin Ferlic seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes. Councilmember White, Chairperson, presiding. Councilmember White, explained the procedures to be followed for tonight’s meeting in accordance with Article 1, Section 2-11 of the South Bend Municipal Code. Councilmember White stated that a brochure may be found on the railing in the Council Chambers explaining those procedures. PUBLIC HEARINGS 02-15 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE FOR PROPERTIES LOCATED IN PORTIONS OF THE 500, 600, 700, 800, 900 BLOCKS OF INDIANA AVENUE, PORTIONS OF THE 1500 BLOCKS OF PRAIRIE AVENUE, KEMBLE STREET, CATALPA STREET, CHAPIN STREET, KENDALL STREET, SCOTT STREET AND TAYLOR STREET, SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, COUNCILMANIC DISTRICT NO. 6 IN THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA Councilmember Oliver Davis Chairperson, Zoning & Annexation Committee, reported that they met this afternoon on this bill and sends it to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. th Presenter: Angela Smith, Area Plain Commission with Offices on the 11 floor – For this petition to rezone several districts including SF2, GB, LB, and MF1 to LI (light industrial) with approximately 19 acres just south of the park. The area north of Indiana has all of those mixed uses and there’s a buffer along Indiana Ave and that is MF2. The property is currently now vacant. The property is being prepped to create a clear site for development. The Petitioner is not proposing any site plan at this time, they are simply getting the land ready for development so they can market to light industrial users. Once users are identified they can come forward to develop in the light industrial district. This comes from Area Plain with a favorable recommendation and I would be happy to answer any questions. Petitioner: Mike Danch – 1643 Commerce Drive, South Bend – I’m from Danch Harner & Associates representing the City of South Bend. What we are asking for is taking several properties south of the railroad, on 19 acres to rezone, to have consistent zoning. If you have any questions I would be more than happy to answer those. This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. 13