10/11/10 Board of Public Works Minutes

Home Browse Search

REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 11, 2010 307 FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION - 'PETITION TO VACATE THE FIRST EAST /WEST ALLEY SOUTH OF HURON STREET FROM HARRIS STREET EAST TO THE FIRST NORTH /SOUTH ALLEY Mr. Gilot indicated that Mr. Robert Baranowski, 516 Harris Street, South Bend, Indiana 46619, has submitted a request to vacate the above referenced alley for the purposes of controlling traffic and security. Mr. Gilot advised the Board is in receipt of favorable recommendations concerning this Vacation Petition from the Police Department, Fire Department, Community & Economic Development and Engineering. Area Plan recommended against the vacation. They stated that the alley to be vacated does not provide any immediate access to any adjacent structures; however, said alley does provide access from the adjacent north/south alley. Area Plan stated the vacation would hinder the use of a public right -of -way by the neighborhood in which it is located or to which it is contiguous; the adjacent north/south alley dead ends into the railroad tracks. Vehicles, especially garbage trucks, use this alley to gain access to Harris Street to go north. Northern Indiana Public Services Company stated there is a two -inch plastic gas main in this alley that they will need to have access to for maintenance and operation purposes. A structure cannot be placed on the alley with the active gas main present. Mr. Littrell stated the north/south alley is overgrown and not used. He noted trash trucks do not use the alley. Therefore, Mr. Gilot made a motion that the Clerk send a letter to the petitioner approving the vacation subject to moving trash collection outside the alley, at the curbside, and subject to a utility easement. Mr. Littrell seconded the motion which carried. Mr. Gilot requested the Clerk copy Solid Waste on the letter. TABLE RECOMMENDATION - PETITION TO VACATE THE SOUTH HALF OF PINE STREET FROM WESTERN TO THE FIRST EAST /WEST ALLEY BETWEEN LAUREL STREET & CHAPIN STREET Mr. Gilot indicated that Mr. Bume Miller of The Troyer Group, on behalf of the Salvation Army Kroc Center, has submitted a request to vacate the above referenced street for the purpose of the construction of an additional parking lot for the Kroc Center. Mr. Gilot advised the Board is in receipt of favorable recommendations concerning this Vacation Petition from the Area Plan Commission, Police Department, Solid Waste, and Community & Economic Development. Negative recommendations were received from the Fire Department and Engineering. The Fire Department stated that Pine Street is a very unkempt, narrow street with a family living at the end of the area being requested for vacation. The nearest fire hydrant to this residence is across the street from Western Avenue and half a block south. The next closest hydrant after that is the west corner of Martin Luther King Drive and Western Avenue. Ladder trucks can go down the 300 block of Pine Street from Western Avenue but not from Napier Street from the north. Due to the presence of the residence at 315 Pine Street, along with two other structures on the street, the Fire Department denies the request. Engineering's recommendation requires that Pine Street remain open and become incorporated into the proposed parking lot, or that the east /west alley be improved to serve as an outlet for Pine Street and the parking lot. Mr. Littrell stated the Kroc Center is evaluating the alternatives and may choose not to proceed with the vacation request. Therefore, Mr. Littrell made a motion to table the request. Mr. Gilot seconded the motion, which carried. APPROVAL OF RECOMMENDATION FOR A PERMIT FOR TEMPORARY OCCUPANCY OF PUBLIC PROPERTY — UNDEVELOPED PORTION OF VIRIDIAN DRIVE ADJACENT TO MCCORMICK AND COMPANY PROPERTY Mr. Gilot advised that the Board is in receipt of favorable recommendations from the Division of Engineering for the above referenced permit, as applied for by Gray Construction, 10 Quality Street, Lexington Kentucky 40507. This permit is for the temporary construction entrance and tagging area for a construction office trailer and will be in affect for eight (8) months from the time of approval. Upon a motion made by Mr. Littrell, seconded by Mr. Gilot and carried, the recommendation was approved. APPROVE TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES Upon a motion made by Mr. Littrell, seconded by Mr. Gilot and carried, the following traffic control devices were approved: NEW INSTALLATION: Handicapped Accessible Parking Space Sign