09/27/82 Board of Public Works Minutes

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421 REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER '27,'1982 the location where the alleys presently intersect to better facilitate turning movements. Dr. Wilhelm asked if a sign could be erected on Main Street to indicate access -to her business on Michigan through the Town Tower property. After a brief discussion, Mr. Leszczynski advised that Dr. Wilhelm's request would need to be directed to the Town Tower Motel Corporation since the sign could not be located in the public right-of-way but on Town Tower's property. The operator of Orfee's Hair Designs, 415 North Michigan Street, also objected to the vacation of the portion of the east -west -alley because it would restrict access to her property since Michigan Street was one-way going north. She wondered how her clients would know that, in order to reach her property from the west, they could enter on to private property owned by the Town Tower under the easement to be given. She,.too, hoped that a sign could be posted to notify the public about the easement, Upon a motion made by Mr. Leszczynski, seconded by Mr. Kernan and carried, the public hearing was closed. Mr. Kernan stated �- that the Board had,. on September 13, 1982, recommended the �- vacation of the above alleys favorably to the Council subject to the granting of an easement because of its concerns over the access problem which would undoubtedly be caused to the property owners on Michigan Street. He advised that the Board had also Q been concerned about access of emergency vehicles; however, with the information which had been provided by the Town Tower Motel Corporation, those concerns had been addressed from a technical standpoint. He felt that some good points had been made regard- ing the question of how to make the public and customers and clients of the Michigan Street businesses aware of the easement rights. He stated that the current 14-foot wide alley would be vacated and a 22-foot wide.permanent easement located approximately 25 feet south of the existing alley would provide for more direct access to Lot 160, 161 and 162 because of a wider turning radius for which the city would require additional land to be dedicated, He encouraged the parties involved and the Town Tower Motel Corporation to try to work out a satisfactory arrangement regarding the possibility of erecting directional signage. Upon a motion made by Mr. Kernan, seconded by Mr. Leszczynski and carried, the favorable recommendation made by the Board on September 13, 1982, for the vacation of the northerly portion of the north -south alley was re -affirmed, and a favorable recom- mendation for the westerly portion of the east -west alley was forwarded to the Common Council, subject to the following: (1) the granting of a permanent easement by the Town Tower Motel Corporation for a 22-foot wide strip of land located approximately 25 feet south of the present westerly portion of the alley, from Main Street east to the north -south alley; (2).the dedication of additional right-of-way where the alleys presently intersect to better facilitate turning movements; (3) the reservation of the rights and easements of all utilities, all in accordance with the final site plan approved and on file in the Office of the St. Joseph County Area Plan Commission, APPROVAL OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CONTRACTS Ms. Betsy Harriman, staff member for the Department of Community Development, explained that Board approval was being requested on a contract with the Department of Redevelopment and Economic Development for public works improvements, clean-up, marketing and promotional activities to prepare the Studebaker Industrial Corridor for future use. She explained that the budget amount was $150,000.00, and the proposed contract was an extension or continuation of a previously -funded activity. Mrs. Janet Holston from the Community Development Department explained that Board approval was also needed -on a contract with Tower Federal Savings & Loan to provide for a Mortage Subsidy Program which would allow potential home owners to