10/09/98 Board of Public Works Special Meeting Minutes

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SPECIAL MEETING OCTOBER 9, 1998 Therefore, Ms. Roemer made a motion that the Board send a favorable recommendation to the Common Council concerning this Vacation Petition. Mr. Powell seconded the motion which carried. UNFAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION - PETITION TO VACATE PROPERTY Mr. Caldwell indicated that the Common Council has submitted to the Board a Vacation Petition as completed by the Walnut Grove Mutual Housing Corporation, South Bend, Indiana to vacate the following property: Twenty-seventh (27th) Street from the south right of way of East McKinley Avenue to the north right of way of East Colfax Avenue for a distance of approximately 700 feet and a width of 60 feet. Located in Walnut Grove Mutual Housing Corporation. The Board of Public Works received unfavorable recommendations from the Fire Department, Bureau of Sanitation, Division of Engineering and the Area Plan Commission concerning this vacation. This street is an important connector street that offers one of the only routes in this area between McKinley Avenue and Mishawaka Avenue and points further south. In addition, traffic to and from St. Anthony's school to the south as well as eastbound traffic on Colfax both use this street to reach McKinley Avenue. A traffic light on the corner of Jefferson and 27th Street controls much of the traffic flow through this area. Vacating this street would disrupt the traffic flow in this area and cause increased traffic through other nearby residential neighborhoods. Also, increased response times for emergency vehicles could result from this vacation. For all of the above listed reasons, and because this vacation will hinder the use of a public way by surrounding neighborhoods, this petition is inconsistent with the guidelines of I.C. 36-7-3-13 and is therefore recommended that it be denied. Mr. Wayne Johnson believed that this closing would cut down on the extra traffic and speeders. He did not believe that the Fire Department uses this area. Mr. James Duxbury, 2635 Tamarack Place, believes problems with traffic, security and the trash would be cut down with the closing. Mr. Paul Myers, 108 North 29th, suggested a guardrail to close offthe road as other areas have used. Mr. Ray Bennett, 103 South 26th, expressed his concern about the safety of backing out on this street. He feels it is too busy and people drive too fast. Mr. Caldwell stated that the biggest concern involves fire response time. Mr. Roemer concurred with residents about trash and speeding, but wondered if another alternative has been looked at. Mr. Powell questioned how many units were involved in this area, which was approximately two hundred fifty (250). Therefore, Mr. Caldwell made a motion that the Board send an unfavorable recommendation to the Common Council concerning this Vacation Petition. Ms. Roemer seconded the motion which carried. FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION - PETITION TO VACATE VARIOUS STREETS/ALLEYS Mr. Caldwell indicated that the Common Council has submitted to the Board a Vacation Petition as completed by Mr. Bill Owen, Bosch Design Group, 113 Lincolnway West, Mishawaka, Indiana to vacate the following streets\alleys: Six alleys and three streets in Homeland 3rd Addition and Richard 2nd Addition (PT Vacated) See attached. Mr. Caldwell advised that the Board is in receipt of favorable recommendations concerning this Vacation Petition from the Area Plan Commission, Police Department, Fire Department, Sanitation, Department of Economic Development and the Department of Public Works. Therefore, Mr. Powell made a motion that the Board send a favorable recommendation to the Common Council concerning this Vacation Petition. Ms. Roemer seconded the motion which carried.