12/09/91 Board of Public Works Minutes

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Q REGULAR MEETING DECEMBER 9, 1991 vacated. She noted that parking on the street is already tight and there would be a great parking hazard if all the residents then had to find parking on the street. Mrs. Karczewski informed the Board that forty-five (45) houses would be affected by the vacation as proposed and if everyone has two (2) vehicles there would be a parking problem. Additionally, residents would have to exit onto either Portage or Riverside which is very dangerous. She noted that the north/south alley is one fifth (1/5) of a mile long and the access alleys proposed to be vacated are needed. Mrs. Karczewski inquired if the Board compiled any statistics regarding the amount of crime in the area and whether adequate fire protection was addressed. Mr. Leszczynski indicated that the Board's concern in this matter is ingress and egress and public use. He noted that the Fire Department has indicated that they have no objections to the vacations as long as they can get through the alleys if required. They would prefer utilizing the north/south alley as opposed to the east/west alleys. In conclusion, Mrs. Karczewski stated that it is not a good idea to vacate the alleys as there is no way to get to their backyard. Mr. Leszczynski informed Mrs. Karczewski that should the fourteen foot (141) alley be vacated, seven feet (71) would revert to her property and they could utilize this area as access to their property. Mrs. Karczewski stated that she has had problems in the past with individuals parking on her property illegally and has had to call the police. Should this alley be vacated and become private property she would have a more difficult time getting the police to help. She stated that it is in the best interests of the people of the area to keep the alley open. Mr. Chris VandenBossche, 721 Forest Avenue, South Bend, Indiana, addressed the Board and stated that he is one of the people who put together this Vacation Petition. He noted that six (6) out of eight (8) residents on these alleys on the east side are owner occupied and three (3) on the west side are owner occupied. He noted that they understand that there is access to parking on the west side for several of these alleys. Residents on the third and fourth alleys have no intent to put any barrier to block the alleys but will leave them open with some of type of access agreement. The residents on the east side do intend to close the alley to eliminate through traffic. Mr. VandenBossche stated that the vacation was structured this way because properties at the intersections of the cross alleys could not give property back to the City in order to have an adequate turning radius. Mr. Tom Brademas, 750 Leland, South Bend, Indiana, indicated that he is also representing the residents of 728 and 736 Portage and stated that he utilizes the alley to park in the back of his property. He stated that he has some reservations and agrees with both sides but would have to drive three hundred fifty feet (350') down a dirt alley to get to his garage. He noted that he and his neighbors have small children. He stated that he is opposed to the closing because he could not get to his garage. He stated that it would be a speed hazard if the City closed a couple of alleys. He noted however that he is undecided regarding this proposed vacation but wanted to attend the Public Hearing to hear what the other residents had to say regarding this matter. Mr. Tom Bullock, 843 Forest Street, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he too initiated this Petition and agrees with Mr. VandenBossche. He noted that the people on Forest Avenue did experience a slight increase in traffic when another alley was vacated. He noted that it was the consensus of the group to close the four (4) alleys instead of having one (1) or two (2) left open and they decided to band together as a group. If this group effort fails, they could come back individually. He sited