SOUTH BEND — The South Bend Common Council approved re-zoning residential and office space for a new family oriented shopping center. But people worry their neighborhood will be used as a traffic detour.

Cleveland Crossings will be built on Cleveland Road and Lynnewood Avenue in South Bend.

The plan for this lifestyle center has changed numerous times. Developers have made more than 10 concessions for the neighbors, which include solutions to traffic, pollution and trash problems.

The stores and look will be similar to Toscana Park in Granger, but most neighbors say keep those in Granger, away from their homes.

It's the same philosophy behind Toscana Park — if you build it, they will come.

"This will definitely help us generate a larger tax base and more growth for the City of South Bend," said Steve Cooreman, the developer.

The city estimates Cleveland Crossings will generated more than $260,000 in taxes, but neighbors say traffic is what will come.

"My daughter is 6 years old, and we fight the traffic continually trying to get her on the school bus every day," said Barbara Sweeney, a neighbor who opposes the project.

"We just don't feel it's going to be very safe. We have county roads that are very narrow, and two large vehicles can barely pass each other at the same time," said Charles Vandeveire, another neighbor against the project.

Developers disagree.

"We are not picking up new traffic from the area. we are just picking up the traffic that is going by it," said Michael Danch of Danch, Harner & Associates who is working with Cooreman on the project.

But the developers heard the neighbors and decided to compromise by forcing all traffic leaving on Lynnewood to turn right, adding no trucks allowed signs, and not allowing a drive-thru restaurant to come.

"I've never made so many concessions and put so many restrictions on a piece of real estate. But I believe it's still doable," said Cooreman.

It wasn't enough for neighbors.

"It is a pipe dream. Anyone who wants to go north is going to go north, even with a sign," said Vandeveire.

But it was enough for Common Council members.

"We have to find a balance," said Oliver Davis, 6th District councilman.

"This is ideal for commercial development," said Dr. David Varner, 5th District councilman.

The Common Council approved the development under the stipulations that all the concessions are met.

The concessions will need to be approved by the Area Plan Commission. If the plan is approved, stores could be open in six months.