06/12/1978 Board of Public Works Minutes

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152 REGULAR MEETING JUNE 12, 1978 was done by Loitz Brothers, the storm sewer contractor, so we ask you to complete the job. The contention that this project will have no adverse effect on neighborhood or is not highly controversial is false. The Indiana State Highway Commission and L. D. Cooper, Chief, Div. of Roadside Development and G. K. Hallock, Chief Highway Engineer, say the following about the impact on the neighborhood, and Richard Boehning, Chairman of the Highway Commission: 1. Reduction of noise and air pollution on Washington but what he did not say was noise and air pollution would be increased on Colfax. 2. Noise levels will.exceed design levels of 70 D.B.A. for residential area. This will increase to 82.6 and 83.3 D.B.A. on Orange and Colfax. 3. Tree removal will be undesirable. On June 5 and 7, 1978, articles in the South Bend Tribune, the Street Maintenance Program, including the Orange- Colfax connector, was proposed by the Mayor. We applaud and welcome the proposal but we are wondering if the promise to the neighbor- hood will be honored. Mr. McMahon and staff, on June 5, 1978, stated that they selected the streets to be improved and based the selection on the condition of the streets and the traffic volume and the maintenance that was done in the past. We deplore the neglect of the past and present mayors, councilmen and Board of Public Works over the past ten years on the repair of Orange - Colfax. We question why we are not at the top of the priority list, rather than number sixteen. We regret and deplore having been given the choice of residential character destruction and street repair or retention of residential character and no foreseeable street repair. We gave the Mayor the neighborhood request as the mayor requested. I hope he relayed the request to you. I hope the Board of Public Works will act on our request. We also hope the mayor will give prompt action as promised. " Mr. McMahon said the City has received the requests of the neighborhood association. If the federal government will not agree to make modifications in the plan, then the area will have to compete with all other areas in the City for the money available. This project would use the equivalent of a full year's budget for street repairs. The money would have to be appropriated by the Common Council. Mr. Carter said the City has done no repair work on these streets over the past ten years and Mr. McMahon pointed out that, over that period, it was anticipated that the Orange- Colfax project would be pursued. It was not until this spring that there was any question that it would not be pursued. Councilman Terry Miller asked whether the Model Cities organization had recommended the plan. Mr. Carter said Model Cities did recommend the plan. Councilman Miller said he was concerned about the opposition of the residents now. He said the objection to arterial streets in the neighborhood is unfounded and pointed out examples of such arterials in other neighborhoods, such as Colfax, LaSalle, Rockne, Madison, Jefferson and Mishawaka Avenue. These street improvements have increased property value and have not had an adverse effect on the neighborhoods. Mr. Carter expressed concern that traffic from State Road 2 and U. S. 20 will be diverted. Mr. McMahon said this is a misstatement. Highway officials have indicated they will abandon State Road 2 and U. S. 20 when the by -pass is completed. This only means the roads will revert to local control, but traffic will not be diverted to the connector. The Board was asked about the removal of trees and no parking where the street is to be widened. Mr. McMahon said that where the street has to be widened to fifty -two feet, this will have to be done, but plans now are to leave Colfax as it is east of Elm Street. Orange Street would be fifty -two feet, curb to curb and west of Elm it would have to be widened. Mr. Carter 1 n