Council approves annexation ordinance for Lafayette Falls phase I after adopting fiscal plan

The Common Council passed substitute Bill 63‑24 on Jan. 27 annexing roughly 45 acres known as Lafayette Falls phase I into the City of South Bend. The council first adopted Resolution 25‑04, a fiscal plan required by state annexation laws, before taking final action on the annexation ordinance.

Skip Morrell presented the fiscal plan and parcel map and said the annexation area is contiguous to the city and currently vacant. Morrell told council development proposals anticipate roughly 100 to 110 single‑family homes, primarily S‑1 (Suburban Neighborhood 1) zoning, and that water and sewer service lines are available from streets to the north. He said no city capital improvements were planned at the time of annexation, and that emergency services would be assigned to existing fire and police beats serving the Fifth District.

Developer counsel Richard Nussbaum spoke in favor of the fiscal plan and asked council for adoption; he said the developer, Lafayette Falls LLC, supported the city's fiscal analysis and recommended approval.

Council members representing the Fifth District praised the potential residential development and said the project brings growth to an area that has seen little new development recently.

The council voted unanimously on the fiscal plan and the annexation ordinance. Staff said the annexation will add the area into the city's zoning and service framework and that future development approvals will follow the usual permitting and subdivision processes.

No capital improvements were authorized as part of the annexation; water and sewer availability was described as sufficient from existing lines, and city staff said services such as police and fire would be assigned to the existing beats that cover the expanded area.