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Council adopts zoning updates and passes a property-vacation ordinance
Summary
The Common Council voted unanimously on April 27 to adopt two zoning-related ordinances that update code language and make targeted zoning changes (including accessory dwelling-unit and building-width flexibility) and to vacate a paper alley near West Calvert; the council also advanced several zoning petitions to the Board of Zoning Appeals.
The South Bend Common Council unanimously adopted a package of zoning updates and approved the vacation of a paper alley at its April 27 meeting.
After presentations from zoning staff, the council approved two measures: Bill 21-26, which updates multiple municipal-code chapters to align with the current zoning code (Chapter 21), and substitute Bill 22-26, a broader set of zoning amendments. Zoning staff described the changes as a mix of clerical updates and targeted policy adjustments designed to ease development and encourage housing production. Changes include allowances for two-story accessory dwelling units under specified size and height limits, clarifications to frontage requirements, and alternate pathways to address maximum building-width rules for apartment buildings where certain architectural or site conditions apply.
Zoning staff said the changes aim to reduce the number of variance requests, modernize language and provide flexibility for developers while preserving design goals. "This is a package of rules to give some flexibility to where we can save a developer on development costs so they can build more effectively," Michael DeVita, assistant director of planning, said.
Council also approved Bill 20-26, an ordinance vacating the western half of an unimproved north-south right-of-way north of Calvert, immediately east of 2801 West Calvert; petitioner Chris Tomkiewicz requested the vacation. Staff described the alley as a paper alley (not in active use) and committee and city departments recommended favorable action. The measure passed on a 9-0 roll-call vote.
Several other zoning petitions received first readings and were referred to the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Zoning and Annexation Committee for public hearings and additional review.
All three main measures (Bills 20-26, 21-26 and substitute 22-26) passed with nine ayes and will proceed with administrative steps required for implementation.
