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Council unanimously approves four duplex special exceptions across South Bend neighborhoods
Summary
The Common Council voted unanimously on April 13 to advance and adopt four zoning special‑exception ordinances allowing duplexes at 915 Harrison (near northwest), 1245 E Madison (Northeast), 1010 Furbringer (Lincoln Park) and 1249 Corby Boulevard. Petitioners described the units as infill 'missing middle' housing; public hearings had no speakers.
The South Bend Common Council on April 13 advanced and adopted four zoning ordinances allowing two‑unit dwellings at properties across the city, citing consistency with the city's comprehensive plan and neighborhood plans.
Tim Stab, the city's zoning specialist, presented each petition as a special exception consistent with objective H1.1 of the comprehensive plan (encouraging a mix of housing types). The council heard presentations and site plans for:
• 915 Harrison Avenue (Bill 14‑26) — a side‑by‑side duplex in the Near Northwest neighborhood promoted by Near Northwest Neighborhood, which said the design will provide affordable rental two‑bedroom units; the zoning committee recommended a favorable report and the council moved the bill forward and later adopted it on third reading.
• 1245 East Madison Street (Bill 15‑26) — a side‑by‑side duplex; petitioner Nathan Sprunger said each unit would include four bedrooms and three baths; a favorable recommendation was recorded and the bill was adopted on third reading.
• 1010 Furbringer Street (Bill 16‑26) — a pre‑approved stack duplex in the Lincoln Park neighborhood; petitioner Jose Gara said units will be held as rentals by a small local developer; the committee and full council moved the bill forward with a favorable recommendation and it was adopted on third reading.
• 1249 Corby Boulevard (Bill 18‑26) — a side‑by‑side duplex to join other recent duplex development on Corby; petitioner Alyssa Gonzoric said materials and fenestration will be varied to avoid repetitive "cookie‑cutter" appearances; the council moved and adopted the ordinance.
There were no public speakers at the hearings for these four bills. Each ordinance obtained a favorable committee recommendation and subsequent unanimous roll‑call votes in the committee of the whole and on final (third) reading.
Motions and roll calls were recorded on the transcript; for example, Bill 14‑26 was moved forward by Councilmember Tomas Morgan with President Lee seconding the committee motion and later adopted on third reading with unanimous "I" votes by the clerk. Council members used surnames and roles in the record and asked routine follow‑up questions about unit counts, notification timing for affected neighbors and site details. The council closed the zoning portion of the meeting and returned to the full agenda.
