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u5 <br /> Excerpts from Plan Commission Minutes of March 4,2010 continued: <br /> m <br /> m <br /> LLMr. Matt Dial asked who was going to be responsible for the cost of removing the street lights, <br /> poles and fixtures. Ms. Stickle stated the petitioner, Mr. Tony Romano,would be responsible for <br /> the costs. <br /> Mr. Steve John asked if the plan was to remove the street and have a parking lot that would be <br /> directly next to the building. Ms. Stewart stated the petitioner would be able to better answer the <br /> question. <br /> Mr. John questioned if it would create a problem in the future for the Orlando Apartments if <br /> access were to be cut off. Ms. Stickle stated the petitioner and Decatur Properties came up with <br /> the conditions that would guarantee continuous access. This will be in the Ordinance which will <br /> be recorded. <br /> Mr. John Mickler asked if the Fire Department has reviewed this. Ms. Stickle said they have <br /> approved it as long as it is maintained as surface parking. <br /> Mr. Mickler stated he disagrees with staff's statement that this will not have an adverse affect on <br /> the general public. He stated he has been down to watch and State Street is used a fair amount of <br /> time. The parking spaces are filled almost constantly. People exiting Busey Bank use State <br /> Street to access Wood Street. He contends that if State Street is vacated or closed, congestion <br /> will be added to Water Street that is already congested. He does not see the value of this to the <br /> citizens of the City. <br /> Mr. Greg Crowe stated staff reviewed the petition and found the street to be minimally used. <br /> The parking along the street is mostly used for the Regions Building. Staff did not feel it would <br /> adversely affect the general public and also felt it would be a benefit for a mixed use downtown <br /> building. <br /> Mr. Mickler stated there is a parking garage on Franklin Street which is underutilized. <br /> Mr. Phil Cochran, representative, was sworn in by Mrs. Poland. <br /> Mr. Cochran stated he is here today representing South Water Street, LLC which is the property <br /> owners of the Regions Building and the property on the east side. Mr. Tony Romano is part of <br /> the LLC and the petition is submitted in his name. <br /> Mr. Cochran said South State Street has about 54 feet of right-of-way. Mr. Romano owns the <br /> Regions Building and everything on the east side. <br /> Mr. Cochran stated he met with Decatur Properties of Illinois, L.P. early on to discuss this <br /> vacation. A signed agreement with them states they will have the use of five (5) parking spaces <br /> as well as access to the east side. This agreement is in addition to being in the Ordinance. <br /> Mr. Cochran said it is not the intention at this time to close State Street. The petitioner wants to <br /> have control of the street. Plans are to reduce the traffic to one (1) lane flowing northbound and <br /> create 45 degree parking spaces which will increase by twelve (12)the number of parking spaces <br /> available on State Street. Mr. Romano will be responsible for taking down the street lights and <br /> delivering them to the Street Department. He will also provide a new controller or adequate <br /> protection for the existing controller. Mr. Romano would like to control the volume of traffic on <br /> State Street and provide more parking for the tenants and customers in the Regions Building. <br />