Planning & Community Resources

The City of South Bend is in the process of planning and designing improvements to the Ironwood Drive – Corby Boulevard – Rockne Drive intersection.  The traffic signal modernization option is being advanced to the environmental impact study stage.

JUNE 29, 2017 MEETING MATERIALS

• Ironwood-Corby Rockne Fact Sheet
• Ironwood-Corby-Rockne Meeting Presentation
• Conceptual Plan: Traffic Signal Modernization Alternative
• Conceptual Plan: Roundabout Alternative

Portage & Elwood Neighborhood Center Vision

Conceptual Framework

Portage Avenue & Elwood Avenue Neighborhood Center Vision framework is intended to serve as a guide to business and property owners, residents, developers, City staff, elected officials, and others in making investment, land use and design decisions.

The Neighborhood Center is bounded by Portage Avenue to the east, Elwood Avenue to the north, Wilber Street to the west, and Vassar Avenue & the former railroad tracks to the south.

Public Design Charrette

The City of South Bend has hired consultant Opticos Design, Inc. to lead a design charrette to develop a market-based conceptual framework for the Portage & Elwood neighborhood center.

Neighbors and community members were invited to attend a public meeting with City staff and Opticos Design, Inc. to share their thoughts and help create a vision for the area.

View the workshop presentation here or watch the video.

Design Charrette –  SBC_OpeningPresentation_050618

Neighbors and community members were invited to share their ideas for the future vision of the Portage & Elwood Neighborhood Center during a four-day workshop.  There were multiple chances for the public to be involved and share their thoughts, including going to the many different sessions held over the four days:

• Opening Presentation – formal presentation setting the stage for the workshop
• Open Studio Hours – informal time to stop in and tell the design team ideas
• Public Open House – informal review of in-progress drawings
• Brown Bag Lunch Talk – discussion about the economics of the neighborhood center
• Closing Presentation – formal presentation sharing the results of the workshop

View the Opening Presentation  or PowerPoint Presentation.

Watch the Brown Bag Lunch Discussion.

View the  Closing Presentation or Final PowerPoint Presentation.

See the four-day workshop in action in a time lapse video.

PLAN DOCUMENT

View the Portage & Elwood Neighborhood Center Vision – Final, which includes a vision for the area and next steps.

For additional information about the Portage & Elwood Neighborhood Center Vision, contact the Department of Community Investment at 574-235-5821.

Overview

To continually improve its competitive position on a regional and national level, the City will occasionally explore expanding through annexation.  Annexation of adjacent areas allows the city to offer its services and infrastructure to a wider area, creating more opportunities for residential, commercial and industrial development.

Indiana Law: Indiana law (IC 36-4-3) specifies the methods and requirements that municipalities must follow in order to pursue annexation of contiguous territory.  To meet the standards set out in Indiana law, voluntary annexations may take three to six months to complete.

When Services are Provided: Services of a non-capital nature will be provided within one year of the effective date of the annexation.  Services of a capital nature, if applicable, will be provided within three years of the effective date of the annexation.

Fiscal Plan: The city prepares a fiscal plan in preparation for an annexation.  The fiscal plan contains information pertaining to the unique situations of the annexation area under consideration.

Property Taxes: Property taxes will increase.  When those taxes will become due is dependent upon the annexation’s effective date and the cut-off date established by the County Auditor’s office for assessment of properties for the upcoming tax year.  It is possible that full city taxes may not be payable until a year or more after the effective date of the annexation.

All St. Joseph County property owners pay state, county, township, school, library and airport property taxes.  Those who live within municipalities also pay the municipal tax rates.  Total tax rates vary depending on the township, school district, and library district that the property is in.  City residents do not pay into the township fire rate funds because the City provides fire service.  Property taxes represent the only tax increase related to annexation.  There is no increase in income tax, vehicle tax, or any other tax.

Water and Sewer: Properties connected to the City’s water and sewer system prior to annexation will see the 20% surcharge removed from their bills.  In addition, trash service is provided to residents at a lower cost than provided by private haulers.  Other costs may go down depending upon individual situations.

Zoning: Annexed properties will be zoned SF1 Single Family and Two Family Residential.  Properties that were zoned other than “R” Residential (single-family) in the County will also be zoned SF1 Single Family and Two Family Residential.  The City Code provides for a zoning plan to be submitted to the City Council by the Area Plan Commission.  Properties that were legally used for other than residential purposes in the county will be considered as legal, non-conforming, until the approval of a zoning plan, if any.

Address Change: Addresses of annexed properties will eventually be changed to a four-digit number.  The city will notify the property owner of the new number.  It would be unlikely that the street name, Post Office designation or the zip code would change.

Annexation Procedures

To learn more about the processes involved in annexing your property into South Bend, see the Annexation Procedure Manual.

Services

Residents and property owners in annexed areas receive the same services as other residents and property owners within the city limits.