07-27-09 Common Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

REGULAR MEETING JULY 27, 2009 attorney’s office or engineering firm which sometimes could be injurious to the neighborhood when they move out and transition back into the right use. He stated that he doesn’t believe that it follows the City Plan the comprehensive plan that the City passed a few years ago. He stated that he appreciates what Mr. Carruthers is trying to do; he stated that the Council does support the mission. He reflected back on turning down the Catholic Worker House in this very same area. He stated that Mr. Carruthers is going to have to be very careful when selecting a site to put in this half-way house. He stated that the Council if the last thin line of defense and are always going to be very careful what they do to a neighborhood whether they allow encroachment of commercialization on a corner or a special exception change to a mixed use property. He stated that what is happening here tonight and he will be voting against this bill. Councilmember Varner stated that he appreciates the passion and the energy that Mr. Carruthers has put into this project. He stated that Mr. Carruthers asked the Council to look into the needs of the community. He stated that one of the needs is to have people be secure and secured and encouraged to reinvest in neighborhoods and know that coming down the road two or three years after they have made their investment that there won’t be some modified commercial venture. However well this project intended is it is still a commercial venture. There will be less and less of those ventures made if they feel like the door is open in all neighborhoods for whatever reason to allow this. Like the project that Mr. Baxter had with the Catholic Worker House, they work together to find another location where the neighborhood is welcome to the project and find an area where there is not that much of a neighborhood and the Council will help with that. He stated that the Council wants to help reach the goal, but they also want to reach their with regard to neighbors and neighborhoods within the City. He stated that while this may seem discouraging find it encouraging finding help elsewhere. He stated that he will not be support this bill tonight. He stated that he has seen too many of these kinds of project the past few years and thinks that if the Council is not consistent they will accidentally open the door to many more and it defeats the whole purpose of being the last line of defense. Councilmember Kirsits made a motion to defeat this bill. Councilmember Varner seconded the motion which carried by a roll call vote of nine (9) ayes. RESOLUTION NO. 3983-09 A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA APPROVING A PETITION OF THE SOUTH BEND BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 3423 SOUTH MICHIGAN STREET WITH CONTIGUOUS VACANT LAND WHEREAS, Indiana Code Section 36-7-4-918.6, requires the Common Council to give notice pursuant to Indiana Code Section 5-14-1.5-5, of its intention to consider Petitions from the Board of Zoning Appeals for approval or disapproval; and WHEREAS, the Common Council must take action within sixty (60) days after the Board of Zoning Appeals makes its recommendation to the Council pursuant to I.C. 36-7-4-918.6; and WHEREAS, the Common Council is required to make a determination in writing on such requests pursuant to Indiana Code Section 36-7-4-918.4, and WHEREAS, the South Bend Board of Zoning Appeals has made a recommendation, pursuant to applicable state law. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA as follows: 17