04-25-2022 Public Works and Property Vacation

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• CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK could do some homes so that they enter from the front. Either of those situations, we were advised, would require an alley vacation so we would have the ability to develop that as desired. Committee Member Karen White asks would either option work. Regina Williams Preston responds, we were initially told that the city based on the zoning area, aren't allowing curb cuts. That is one reason we needed to have the alley vacated. Again, one of the concerns was if you're entering a property through the alleys in South Bend, there's typically issues with the snow. If we own that, that we can agree and go ahead and improve that alley so that would we'd be able to shovel it in the winter and even put up more lighting. Committee Chair White clarifies, currently, we're looking at entering from the back. Regina Williams states, the first property that we are proposing, the site plan has an entrance from the back. Committee Member Lori Hamann asks if we are vacating the entire alley or requesting a portion of the map in the packet. Regina Williams states, we are requesting vacation of the entire alley from Keller to Marquette. Currently there is an access all the way through. It has been overgrown for years. There are bushes growing that would have to be uprooted to make it an actual alley again. Committee Member Hamann asks if most of these homes on the lots identified are occupied. Regina Williams states, yes, the homes are occupied and currently our lots are vacant lots. The neighbors were in favor. Most of them over the years, have taken over the alleys with mowing and caring for them. Carl Littrell asks how you are getting the alley on your site plan or an access on your site plan when you are not allowed to curb cut once the alley is gone. You either have a curb on Meade St. or Keller to connect to. And no curb cuts are allowed. Regina Williams states, currently Keller is just grass. There is no curb at all. Angela Smith, Zoning Administrator, offices located on the 14' floor. The ordinance says that you can't have a curb cut if an alley is present. If they vacate the alley, then they would be entitled to a curb cut. Karen Boyles, City Engineer, offices located on the 13th floor states, it is based on your intent. If you're going to use the alley for access, then we should maintain the alley. If you really want the curb cut and the access off the front, then the vacation makes sense. Every owner along there will inherit some new land as a part of their property. Regina Williams states, we have talked to all the property owners along there. We are ready, we maintain each section of the alley. It has been the natural way that we've cared for the property around here. Every has already taken ownership and action. This would simply make it official. EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 455 County -City Building 1227 W. Jefferson Bvld I South Bend, Indiana 466011 p 574,235.9221 If 574.235.9173 1 TTD574.235.5567 u southbendin.gov 2