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South Bend Common Council <br />4th Floor County City Building <br />227 W. Jefferson <br />South Bend, IN 46601 <br />January 3, 2024 <br />Dear Honorable Council, <br />Filed in Clerk's Office <br />EAN -03-'ZGZ4 <br />CITY CI_EI�h, SOUTH SEND <br />Please accept this Ordinance to vacate the paper alley adjacent to my property. We have resided at <br />914 E. Jefferson for a little over 3 years. In that time, the alley south of our property has been <br />overgrown grass that has never been used for access. The alley approach on Notre Dame Avenue <br />is used as a private driveway of sorts for my neighbor, providing access to what used to be a <br />parking lot when it was a business. The alley to the east has already been vacated. Our block is <br />quite short, just over 400', far below the requirement for a mid -block connection. The only <br />purpose the alley serves is access for the utility companies for the electric/phone/cable lines in the <br />alley. The propose ordinance preserves those rights via a utility easement. <br />We are seeking this approval at this time because we would like to construct a small ancillary <br />dwelling unit for our aging parents. By vacating the alley, we will be able to set the small <br />accessory home (800 sq.ft.) at the current property line and use the vacated alley as a means of <br />meeting our setback. With the utility easement in place, no construction will occur in the vacated <br />alley. We investigated a development variance from the BZA, but where told by the Staff that the <br />appropriate action was the vacate the alley. Historical aerials show that this alley has never been <br />used. Recent changes in development (conversions from businesses to homes on this block) make <br />access from that alley unlikely. The home at the corner of Notre Dame and Jefferson already has <br />direct access to Notre Dame. The only other property abutting the alley, as well as our own, has <br />access from the heavily used north -south alley. <br />We respectfully request approval to vacate this alley. While we prefer not to remove the approach <br />on Notre Dame because of the frequency in which the utility companies use that access point, we <br />understand it is a current City policy to remove the approach when the alley is vacated. <br />Thank you for your consideration. <br />Si erely, <br />Angela M. Smith <br />