12-02-08 Zoning and Annexation Committee Annual Report

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2008 Annual Report of the Zoning and Annexation Committee December 2, 2008 Page 2 Zoning and Annexation Brochure: This year the Committee approved an upgraded 4-page brochure entitled Zoning & Planning Procedures (Copy attached). This brochure is available from the Office of the City Clerk, the Area Plan Commission Office, and the Historic Preservation Office; and may also be downloaded from the Council's website. The brochure briefly summarizes procedures addressing: Annexations Rezonings Historic Landmarks and Districts Written Fiscal Plans Special Exceptions References to Chapter 21 of the South Bend Municipal Code are given, in addition to references to the Indiana Code whish sets for the governing criteria when requests of this nature are made with the Council. Making the brochure available has fostered a better understanding of the process followed for each type of zoning request. 2009 Possible Priorities: As noted in my November 24, 2008 report on the Community/Campus Advisory Coalition and the Social Host Ordinance, ongoing discussions have highlighted the need to continue to creatively address the following concerns: • Weekend rentals on home football weekends and the deleterious effect. on residential neighborhoods • Illegal grandfathering of residential homes • Spot zonings • Over-occupancy of residential homes by non-related individuals Research on each of these topics has begun. Council Member Aran Puzzello has offered to work closely with me on these issues. We hope to be pro-active in amicably resolving and addressing zoning matters so that the our entire city will be enriched. Another ongoing issue is that the Council and the Administration must have detailed discussions on the actual costs for police and fire safety services to new areas proposed to be annexed into the city. This concern, voiced by Council Member Dieter and myself for the past several years, needs to be addressed, especially in light of the growing financial challenges possibly facing our city in 2009 and 2010. It has been a pleasure to serve as Chairperson of the Zoning and Annexation this year. Thank you. cc: John Byorni, Area Plan Executive Director