11/09/1981 Board of Public Works Minutes

Home Browse Search

120 REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 9, 1981 questioned the effect the vacation would have on her property. It was determined Mrs. Berndt would not be directly affected by the vacation since her property was located on the other side of Lincolnway. This was also found true of another property owner who owned property on the east side of Lincolnway. Upon a motion made by Mr. Leszczynski, seconded by Mr. Kernan and carried, the public hearing was closed. Upon a further motion made by Mr. Leszczynski, seconded by Mr. Hill and carried, the Clerk was instructed to forward a favorable recommendation for the vacation of George Avenue and surrounding alleys to the Common Council, subject to any and all utility easements. PUBLIC HEARING - VACATION OF PORTION OF SUNNYMEDE AVENUE Mr. Leszczynski stated that, in order for the Board to submit a recommendation to the Common Council concerning the petition filed to vacate a portion of Sunnymede Avenue, a public hearing had been scheduled at this time, thus giving the Board an opportunity to hear any opposition to the proposed vacation. It was noted that notices had been sent to affected property owners advising them of the public hearing. Mr. Stephen Drendall, 3503 Sunnymede Avenue, one of the petitioners in the proposed vacation, addressed the Board. He explained the boundary lines of the Plat of Fernwood, in which the portion of Sunnymede was located. He stated that a driveway presently exists which is being used as an alley on the east of Sunnymede out to Jefferson Boulevard. He further stated that the petition for vacation included only the first 114 feet of Sunnymede running east from 35th Street, and further that Sunnymede was bounded by Lots 6 and 7 on the north side and Lots 11 and 12 on the south. He stated that the lots were jointly owned, and he explained the history and present uses of other abutting properties. He advised that the Plat of Fernwood had been prepared over 40 years ago and did not reflect what actually has happened to the surrounding properties. He stated that all of the parcels have access to streets, and a few lots remain which are undeveloped and has thus been commonly owned. He stated that Cole Associates had recently conveyed its property to the east to Holy Cross Health Systems. Mr. Drendall then went on to explain that the original plat had envisioned the development of 15 residential lots in the area owned by Holy Cross Health Systems, and that the character of the area has changed and the residential lots were never realized. He felt that, if the vacation was approved, Holy Cross Health Systems would be able to develop its property in whichever way it desired and adequate access onto Jefferson Boulevard would be provided. He stated that access to Jefferson Boulevard would probably be more preferable since Jefferson was already a commercial street and was wide enough to handle the type of traffic which would be generated from the facility, rather than coming out onto 35th Street. He did not feel Sunnymede should exist because the plat uses had drastically changed from what it had originally been envisioned to be. Mr. Hill asked if Holy Cross Health Systems, as owner of affected property, would be willing to sign the petition for the vacation. Mr. Drendall stated that he had approached the organization approximately six weeks ago; however, they had just recently acquired the property and were not ready to determine what their future needs would be. Mr. Leszczynski pointed out to Mr. Drendall that the parcel of land owned by Holy Cross Health Systems could be landlocked if they decided to develop their property according to the original plat. Mr. Drendall did not believe residential development of the area would occur. Mr. Leszczynski advised that the Board would be agreeable to seeing the street vacated if the Health Systems group had no objection to the vacation. He further stated that the Health Systems organization may want to develop its property at some future time according to the original plat. If that occurred, the properties would be landlocked. He informed Mr. Drendall that unfavorable comments for the vacation of Sunnymede had been received by the Board from the Engineering Department and the Area Plan Commission because some parcels of land could be landlocked. Mr. Hill stated that the Board's