07-02-12 Community & Economic Development

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COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT JULY 2.2012 4:30 P.M. Committee Members Present: Henry Davis, Karen White, Gavin Ferlic, Dr. Fred Ferlic Citizen Members Present: Pat Crowley, Zach Raymond Other Council Member's Present: Tim Scott; Valerie Schey, Dr. David Varner, Oliver Davis, Derek Dieter Other's Present: Mike Meacham, Bill Schalliol, Mike Schmuhl, Nancy Morgan, Jennifer Zarembeka, Marge Romwalter, Betty Martz, John Martz, Cedric Moodie, JM Horvath, Jim Goepfrich, Ann Nanovic, Matt Nanovic, Gary Zapalski, Mark Wilson, Gail Wilson, Mat Holderbaum, Cindy Holderbaum, Gerry McKillip, Matt Heckman, Kala Heckman, Brian Bishop, Jennifer Hellyer, Terrance Taylor, Greg Chidester Agenda: Discussion of Fellows St. Coridor Project Committee Chairman Henry Davis began the hearing making a few preliminary remarks before turning to City Engineer Mike Meacham for a presentation. Henry welcomed the nearly 40 people present for interest while making it clear this matter was not directly in Council's hands; but would be decided by the Redevelopment Commission. The Commission is made up of seven members, 3 appointed by the Council and 4 by the Mayor. Ultimately, they will vote to stop the project as proposed, consider alternatives, or simply fund the current proposal. The proposed Fellow Corridor was designed by the City's consulting engineers to manage traffic entering or exiting a new interchange selected and being built by the state as a part of the new freeway to Indianapolis. In effect a limited access upgrade to the current US 31 S route. To expedite the expected increase in traffic once the Fellows interchange is complete the proposed plan would make Fellows a 3 lane & bike lane & curbs and sidewalks following the Fellows St. ROW before turning W onto Chippewa connecting to S. Michigan St. This proposed route would require the purchase and demolition of 31 homes. That and the increase of traffic on Fellows and Chippewa is the nexus of the problem affected residents voiced to the Council meeting on June 25`t'. Henry Davis felt those concerns should be heard. At Henry's request the hearing proceeded with a presentation from the City Engineer supplemented by Bill Schalliol form the Economic Development Department. Using an overhead Mr. Meecham recounted how the proposal came to be and ended up saying the proposed alignment was an optimal one well thought out and designed. Schalliol echoed these sentiments saying people had been notified of its proposal at least twice, in June of 2011 and again in March of 2012 and finally in June of 2012.