04-11-94 Public Works & Property Vacation

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CCommittet Ittport PUBLIC WORKS AND PROPERTY VACATION COMMITTEE tIjt QCommott Qtouttuil of tips QLitp of 'ouUj OttO: The April 11, 1994 meeting of the Public Works and Property Vacation Committee was called to order by its Chairperson, Councilmember Steve Luecke at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Informal Meeting Room. Persons in attendance included Councilmembers Slavinskas, Kelly, Leucke, Ladewski, Washington, Duda, Coleman, Zakrzewski, Puzzello; Ann Kolata, Jenny Pitts Manier, Bipin Doshi, Don Porter, Mr. Ziker, Eric Marshal, Stan Blenke,Phil Panzica,William Lamie,Kathy Poste,John Leszczynski and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand. The first item on the agenda was to review Bill No. 23-94 which is a vacation request for Tutt Street from Main to the first north/south alley. Ann Kolata noted that this is a substitute Bill with the City being the petitioner. She stated that the purpose of the vacation is to allow the sale of land to Schafer Gear to allow a building and parking lot expansion. Mr. Bipin Doshi,the President of Schafer Gear, then gave further information. He stated that they are projecting an eighteen thousand (18,000) square foot expansion at the cost of seven hundred fifty thousand($750,000.00) dollars. Between 15 and 20 new employes would be hired at nine to twelve dollars per hour. Additionally, over one million dollars in equipment will be added to the facility this year. Ann Kolata noted that agreements have been reached between the Center for the Homeless and Decoker with regard to access to their facilities. She noted however, that other businesses may have problems and that the petitioner will need to work closely with the Engineering Department regarding Tutt Street. She added however,that Tutt Street is not a truck route. Councilmember Luecke than asked for persons to speak in favor of the proposed Bill. There were none. Mr. Ziker spoke in opposition. He stated that in light of the recent expansions of Zikers, Mossburg, and A to Z Plastics, that there are numerous truck deliveries in the area. He stated that there is a high traffic accident rate currently at Fellow and Sample and stated that the traffic division of the South Bend Police Department should be contacted to verify this. He stated that currently the traffic situation is unsafe in light of the additional retail manufacturing which would negatively affected by the proposed vacation. Mr. Eric Marshal of Sibley's also spoke in opposition. He stated that Fellows is not used because of its proximity to the railroad tracks and that there is not a"No Turn Signal". He suggested the widening of Tutt and signalization. Kathy Poste the of A to Z Plastics also spoke in opposition. She stated that the merchants on the north side of Tutt would be affected with regard to deliveries. She stated that there are traffic concerns currently and that further study of the congestion needs to be done by the City before the vacation is acted upon.