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Zoning committee forwards three duplex special exceptions and an East Side baseball indoor facility to committee of the whole
Summary
The Zoning and Organization Committee recommended favorable action on three special exceptions for duplex construction and on a larger request to formalize park use and approve an indoor recreation facility at Hickory Road; committee members and staff discussed neighborhood traffic, lighting, parking, and tree replacement plans.
The Zoning and Organization Committee recommended several zoning actions — three special exceptions to allow duplexes on vacant lots and a special exception and use variance for the East Side baseball and softball association’s proposal at Hickory Road — and voted to send them to the Committee of the Whole with favorable recommendations.
Three separate special‑exception petitions (Bill 06-25 for 411 Cottage Grove; Bill 15-25 for 1335 Corby Boulevard; Bill 16-25 for 1253 Corby Boulevard) sought permission to build two‑unit dwellings on currently vacant lots. City planning staff said each proposal used a preapproved stacked‑duplex plan consistent with neighborhood scale and cited the comprehensive plan objective to encourage a mix of housing types; all three petitions came to the committee with favorable recommendations from the Board of Zoning Appeals and were forwarded with favorable recommendations.
Separately, the committee considered a larger proposal (Bill 18-25) from East Side Baseball & Softball Association to formalize existing ball fields (special exception for park/open space) and to allow an indoor entertainment and recreation facility (use variance) at 1701 Hickory Road. Angela Smith (Dan Turner Associates) and project representatives described a public–private partnership between Venue Parks & Arts, Indiana University South Bend (IUSB) and East Side, with the indoor facility proposed along Hickory Road to provide year‑round training space. The presenters said the development would add approximately 183 parking spaces, focus primary access from Hickory Road to reduce neighborhood cut‑through traffic, and meet the city’s updated dark‑sky and landscaping requirements. Staff said the proposal also includes extensive streetscape and screening improvements and potential tree plantings to mitigate visual impacts.
Committee members pressed the project team on traffic, lighting, timing and the status of fundraising. Project representatives said the first phase would be the indoor facility and that groundbreaking was unlikely during the current season; fundraising and final design would determine a start date. Staff said a neighborhood outreach meeting had been held and that the parks department and association would continue engaging neighbors on lighting orientation, tree replacement and parking plans.
Votes at a glance: Bill 06-25 (411 Cottage Grove) — sent to Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation (roll call: 5 ayes). Bill 15-25 (1335 Corby Boulevard) — sent to Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation (5 ayes). Bill 16-25 (1253 Corby Boulevard) — sent to Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation (5 ayes). Bill 18-25 (1701 Hickory Road) — sent to Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation (5 ayes) to permit park/open space formalization and to allow indoor entertainment/recreation by use variance.
Ending: Each item will appear on the Committee of the Whole agenda for full council consideration; staff will continue neighborhood engagement and refine final design, lighting and parking plans for the Hickory Road project.
