Zoning and city staff presented a special-exception request to allow a two-unit dwelling at 1005 White Oak Drive, but the Zoning & Annexation Committee voted to table the request to Jan. 12 after residents voiced strong opposition.

Tim Staub, zoning specialist for the City of South Bend, told the committee the proposal uses a city preapproved two-unit plan and does not change setbacks, height limits or the duplex building-type standards. "A 2 unit dwelling is a low density use," Staub said, adding the lot is about 0.42 acre and the proposal meets the city's comprehensive-plan objectives to allow a mix of housing types.

Property owner Dolores Johnson described the duplex as a way to "age in place," saying she wanted space for a caretaker rather than to convert the house into a rental. "No — this is not for short-term rentals," Johnson said when asked about rental intent.

More than a dozen neighbors opposed the exception during the public hearing, naming precedent, street width, parking and property values as concerns. Neighbor Amanda Sarabolo said the area "has long been a stable single family neighborhood" and argued the request did not demonstrate a hardship required by state and local standards. James Wakluik, a nearby resident, cited a 2020 vacancy rate and warned that the exception could encourage more duplexes and alter neighborhood character.

Council members pressed the applicant on neighbor outreach and timeline; several said they were open to higher density where appropriate but concerned about concentrated changes near Notre Dame and narrow streets in the Wooded Estates area. Councilman Troy Warner said he had received multiple emails and calls from residents worried about multifamily conversion in the neighborhood.

After discussion, Councilman Troy Warner moved, and Councilwoman Karen White seconded, a motion to table the item to the Jan. 12 committee meeting and asked the petitioner to meet with neighbors and staff before that date. The roll call recorded four ayes and one nay and the committee officially postponed final action.

The committee asked staff to include more detailed architectural illustrations or alternative design approaches and urged the petitioner to document neighborhood outreach before the next hearing.