The Common Council voted Jan. 12 to adopt Ordinance 80-25 (third substitute), a set of amendments to Chapter 21 of the South Bend Municipal Code that city planners said will simplify the development process, increase flexibility and provide additional public review for some uses.

Michael Davita, assistant director of planning, opened the presentation by summarizing outcomes since the city’s 2020 zoning ordinance: he said the city issued 183 permits for new detached houses in 2025 (including duplexes and townhouses), much of it infill development, and called for regular, periodic zoning updates. Davita said the first set of changes focuses on four categories: ease of development, flexibility, modernization and code cleanup.

Zoning specialist Mark Del Street described examples: overhauling the trash-enclosure rules to reduce unnecessary cost where enclosures are not visible from the street; relaxing some fence-height variance requirements around schools and daycares (with approval by the zoning administrator); exempting electric vehicle charging stations from certain accessory-structure rules to encourage installation; and proposing that new gas stations and certain alcohol, tobacco and vaping sales be allowed only by special exception to increase public review and provide council oversight.

Council members asked procedural questions about which substitute the planning commission reviewed and about a schedule for recurring updates; staff said the planning commission reviewed the second substitute and the administration plans updates on a roughly six- to 12‑month cadence for topical changes.

The Committee of the Whole accepted the third substitute and issued a favorable recommendation; the full council recorded a 9-0 roll-call vote at third reading and the ordinance passed as amended by the third substitute.

Councilors and planning staff said the changes aim to support infill housing and make routine approvals less burdensome while allowing more scrutiny for uses that carry environmental or neighborhood concerns.