01/28/1980 Board of Public Works Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 28, 1980 across from the doctor's office more so than directly in front of her home. He indicated that the Foundation would have no objection to the residents using the parking lot and driveways for access. Mrs. Margaret Martin, 525 North Main, wondered if the traffic using the alley could be metered to see just how much use it is given. Mr. McMahon indicated that the Board must look at how much traffic there is in the area to service the properties. He explained that the alleys are there to service adjacent property owners, and concern has been expressed by the general public as to the use of the alley. He indicated that he had more of a concern for the individual property owners on that block and access to Mrs. Martin's property. He felt the dedicated alley would help in that respect and that had been a condition should the vacation be approved. Mrs. Allen talked about the many large trucks trying to turn from the alley and having to end up going around the block because of the narrowness. Mr. McMahon talked about the traffic on the next block and indicated that if a problem developed there, there would be efforts to resolve it. Mrs. Allen mentioned the landscaping, and Mr. McMahon indicated that the landscaping was required as a condition for the rezoning which had already been approved by the Area Plan Commission and Common Council. Mr. Hill expressed concern for Mrs. Martin and indicated that the dedicated easement would provide her necessary access. He indicated that access would be lost from the north to the south; however, the alley vacation would not modify the rezoning which had already taken place. He stated that Mr. Brennan may be slightly inconvenienced by having to drive a half block further; however, the rezoning for the Foundation had been approved and now a solution to the traffic must be settled, and he felt this was the best approach. He concluded that a refusal at this point would not resolve the problem. Mr. Kernan indicated that there would be additional parking provided by the Foundation so that on- street parking could be alleviated. Regarding the designation of the Park Avenue Neighborhood Association, which had been discussed at the last meeting, he stressed that the Board was concerned about that status but felt the point, at this stage of the game, would not adversely affect that designation but would be the best approach to handling the matter. Mr. Marchmont Kovas, 608 Park Avenue, indicated that the Park Avenue Neighborhood Association had protested the five story building proposal also, but the rezoning had been approved. He, too, asked about landscaping, and Mr. Kernan indicated that the area facing the west would be landscaped. Mr. McMahon again stated that the landscaping was a condition of the rezoning already approved. Upon motion made by Mr. McMahon, seconded by Mr. Kernan and carried, the Board confirmed the Vacation Resolution. Upon a motion made by Mr. McMahon, seconded by Mr. Hill and carried, preparation of the Assessment Roll was ordered. PETITION FOR RESTRICTED RESIDENTIAL PARKING A petition was received by the Board signed by 39 residents in the area of the 500 and 600 block of North Lafayette and the 300.and 400 block of West Navarre Street, requesting the establishment of restricted parking in that area. Councilman Joseph T. Serge felt the Board should conduct a survey of the area, and he indicated that the residents had been hopeful the parking problem would be alleviated when the hospital's parking garage had been constructed; however, patrons and employees still continued to park along the streets thereby prohibiting the property owners from parking in front of their own homes. There was a brief discussion on the stipulations contained in the recently adopted ordinance of the Common Council allowing for the parking restriction designation in those neighborhoods petitioning for it. It was indicated that, at this point, it would be difficult to ascertain just how much