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Home My WebLink About08-24-2026 Zoning and Annexation Committee Minutes OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK BIANCA L. TIRADO, CITY CLERK INTEGRITY | SERVICE | ACCESSIBILITY Jasmine Jackson Matthew Neal Veronica Pitt-Payne CHIEF DEPUTY CITY CLERK / CHIEF OF STAFF DEPUTY CITY CLERK / DIRECTOR OF POLICY DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS EXCELLENCE | ACCOUNTABILITY | INNOVATION | INCLUSION | EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall | 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. | South Bend, Indiana 46601 | p. 574.235.9221 | f. 574.235.9173 | www.southbendin.gov ZONING AND ANNEXATION AUGUST 24, 2026, 5:20 P.M. Committee Members Present: Dr. Heidi Beidinger, Karen L. White, Kay Farlow*, Stacey Odom, Rachel Tomas Morgan Committee Members Absent: Dr. Oliver Davis Other Council Present: Sharon McBride*, Canneth Lee, Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers, Sheila Niezgodski Others Present: Bianca L. Tirado, Matthew Neal, Jasmine Jackson, Lari’onna Green, Veronica Pitt- Payne, Bob Palmer Presenters: Mark Dellostritto, Victor Castro, Tina Patton Agenda: Bill No. 47-26 - Special Exception at 1737 Obrien Street Bill No. 50-26 - Amending the Zoning Ordinance for Property Located at 626 Allen Street and 630 Allen Street Members marked with an asterisk (*) are in virtual attendance via Microsoft Teams. Please note the attached link for the meeting recording: https://docs.southbendin.gov/WebLink/Browse.aspx?dbid=0&repo=sbend&mediaid=412685 Committee Vice Chair Rachel Tomas Morgan called to order the Zoning and Annexation Committee meeting at 5:24 P.M. Bill No. 47-26 - Special Exception at 1737 Obrien Street Mark Dellostritto, Zoning Specialist, with offices on the fifth (5th) floor of City Hall, South Bend, IN 46601, presented the bill. He stated that the petitioner intends to build two (2) stacked duplexes EXCELLENCE | ACCOUNTABILITY | INNOVATION | INCLUSION | EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall | 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. | South Bend, Indiana 46601 | p. 574.235.9221 | f. 574.235.9173 | www.southbendin.gov and showed the site plan and design renderings. He noted that this development would fill two (2) vacant lots, one (1) which has been vacant for ten (10) years and one (1) with no history of development. He said the bill comes with a favorable recommendation from the Plan Commission. Victor Castro, Petitioner, 1737 Obrien Street, South Bend, IN 46628, introduced himself and stated that he had nothing further to add. Committee Member Dr. Heidi Beidinger asked the petitioner about his background and prior construction experience. Victor Castro replied that he has worked as a station engineer for more than twenty-five (25) years at Chicago Public Schools and has relevant construction and building maintenance experience. Committee Member Dr. Beidinger asked the petitioner if this is his first (1st) project in the City of South Bend. Victor Castro confirmed that this is his first project in the City of South Bend, but he has completed previous projects in Chicago. Council President Canneth Lee thanked the petitioner for building in the First (1st) District. He asked how two (2) units would fit on the narrow lot. Mark Dellostritto said both lots are approximately thirty-seven (37) feet wide and the City's pre- approved stacked duplex design is twenty-two (22) feet wide. He said the building’s depth prvodes a fair amount of square footage. Council President Lee asked if the units would face Obrien Street. Mark Dellostritto confirmed that both units will face Obrien Street. He added that there will be parking pads behind the buildings. Committee Member Dr. Beidinger asked about the location of the entrances. Mark Dellostritto said one (1) unit’s entrance is accessed from the front of the building, and the other is accessed from the side. Committee Vice Chair Tomas Morgan held the public hearing, and nobody spoke. Committee Member Dr. Beidinger moved to send Bill No. 47-26 to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation, which was seconded by Committee Member Karen L. White and carried by a vote of five (5) ayes with one (1) Committee Member absent. Bill No. 50-26 - Amending the Zoning Ordinance for Property Located at 626 Allen Street and 630 Allen Street Committee Chair Dr. Oliver Davis – Absent Committee Vice Chair Rachel Tomas Morgan – Aye Committee Member Karen L. White – Aye Committee Member Dr. Heidi Beidinger – Aye Citizen Member Stacey Odom – Aye Citizen Member Kay Farlow – Aye EXCELLENCE | ACCOUNTABILITY | INNOVATION | INCLUSION | EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall | 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. | South Bend, Indiana 46601 | p. 574.235.9221 | f. 574.235.9173 | www.southbendin.gov Mark Dellostritto presented the bill. He stated that it is a request to rezone parcels from urban neighborhood two (U2) to urban neighborhood three (U3). He said the lots are currently vacant and were previously occupied by single-family homes from 1917 until their demolition in the 2000s or 2010s. The applicant intends to build a six (6)-unit dwelling using the City's pre-approved six (6)-plex plan, with four (4) one (1)-bedroom units, two (2) two (2)-bedroom units, and parking pads off the rear alley. He noted this would be the first (1st) time the City's pre-approved six (6)-plex design is built. He explained that additional approvals will be required by the state, since buildings with more than four (4) units are subject to commercial building code instead of residential building code. He added that the proposed U3 designation provides an appropriate transition in intensity from the neighborhood center (NC) parcels to the south and west, and that the building will match the scale and character of surrounding structures. Tina Patton, Petitioner, 707 Sherman Avenue, South Bend, IN 46616, addressed the Committee. She explained that her organization, Cross Communities, has historically focused on single- family homes, but has found through its financial literacy program that clients often need one (1) to three (3) years to become ready for homeownership. She said the six (6)-plex would provide transitional rental housing for those clients on their path to ownership. She described the project as an expansion of the organization's mission. Citizen Member Stacey Odom asked for confirmation that this is a six (6)-plex, not a four (4)- plex. Tina Patton confirmed that is correct. She said the City has identified this housing type as “missing middle” housing. Council President Lee expressed excitement that the project will be in the First (1st) District. He noted that the plan was pre-approved by the City, not the state, and asked the petitioner how she overcame that obstacle. Tina Patton explained that the City hired an additional architect to complete the plan and submit it to the state for approval. Council President Lee asked if once the state approves the plan, anyone can use it. Tina Patton said there may be additional location-specific requirements, but it will generally be easier. Council President Lee asked about the architect. Tina Patton stated that JPR Architecture has been working on the project for two (2) months. Councilmember Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers asked about the design. Tina Patton explained that the six (6)-plex design requires firewalls between units, while single- family homes do not. Committee Vice Chair Tomas Morgan held the public hearing, and nobody spoke. EXCELLENCE | ACCOUNTABILITY | INNOVATION | INCLUSION | EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall | 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. | South Bend, Indiana 46601 | p. 574.235.9221 | f. 574.235.9173 | www.southbendin.gov Committee Member White thanked the petitioner for her commitment to providing safe, quality housing and stated that the whole neighborhood has been transformed. He thanked her for continuing to invest in the community. Committee Vice Chair Tomas Morgan thanked the petitioner for pioneering the six (6)-plex design. Council President Lee encouraged Council members who have not visited the area to see the neighborhood's transformation along Harrison and Sherman Avenues. Tina Patton reflected that when Cross Communities began this work, the City challenged them to prove that there were people who wanted to live in the neighborhood. She said they now have a waiting list of families who want to live in those homes. She said these six (6) units are not just apartments, but places people can be proud of. Committee Member Dr. Beidinger moved to send Bill No. 50-26 to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation, which was seconded by Committee Member White and carried by a vote of five (5) ayes with one (1) Committee Member absent. With no further business, Committee Vice Chair Tomas Morgan adjourned the Zoning and Annexation Committee meeting at 5:43 P.M. Respectfully Submitted, Rachel Tomas Morgan, Committee Vice Chair Committee Chair Dr. Oliver Davis – Absent Committee Vice Chair Rachel Tomas Morgan – Aye Committee Member Karen L. White – Aye Committee Member Dr. Heidi Beidinger – Aye Citizen Member Stacey Odom – Aye Citizen Member Kay Farlow – Aye