Lafayette Falls residents tell council phase 5 development raises safety, wetlands and public-space concerns

Residents of Lafayette Falls delivered multiple public comments during Privilege of the Floor, urging the Common Council to address safety, infrastructure and environmental concerns tied to ongoing and planned development in the subdivision.

Speakers said the projectwhich includes a planned Phase 5 of roughly 109 additional homesrelies primarily on a single, two-lane entrance (Kern/Armstrong), creating traffic-safety risks for pedestrians and school buses. Tom Ferguson, a former law-enforcement officer, urged temporary measures including increased South Bend Police presence during peak school and commute times, speed-mitigation measures, and short-term signage or stop controls while longer-term egress solutions are studied. Ferguson and others urged county coordination because parts of the secondary access (Old Spanish Road) are county roads.

Residents also raised concerns about a large pit that developers have proposed to ring with a walking path; speaker Matthew Shane said the pit is a former sand excavation that appears to be an unstable, wetland-fed basin used by wildlife and has erosion issues. He said creating a walking path around that pit without significant grading, tree removal and wetland permitting would be impractical and possibly unsafe.

Organizers said they are forming a neighborhood association and meeting with city staff (Mary McAfee, engagement and economic empowerment director) to seek formal recognition and resources; Alyssa Barr said a first meeting with city staff was scheduled Oct. 29. Councilmembers and staff acknowledged the concerns, reported the city and county will continue to study road and safety options (including potential turn-lane changes and county road upgrades), and said staff would follow up. No formal action was taken at the meeting; residents asked that the council monitor developer approvals and ensure infrastructure keeps pace with new homes.