2002-36 VACATING PORTION OF AN ALLEY - SITUATED BETWEEN 2500 NORTH MAIN AND NORTH CHURCH STREETS

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Excerpts from April 4, 2002 City Plan Commission Minutes Cal. No. 02-09 Petition of STEPHEN SWANSON, Director of Engineering and Infra- structure of the City of Decatur, to vacate the alley behind the 2500 Block of North Main Street and sought of East Pythian Avenue. Ms. Miller presented the recommendation of staff: The petitioner wishes to vacate 230 feet of the alley way in the 2500 block of North Main Street located adjacent to the Pride Cleaner's property and to Pythian Avenue. The south portion of the alley adjacent to McKinley Avenue was vacated in 195�! Pride Cleaners uses the north portion of the alley as part of their parking lot. A twelve (12)inch sewer line is located in the alley. Last year, the Engineering Division made emergency repairs to the sewer line that resulted in the destruction of a portion of the Pride Cleaner's parking lot. In exchange for the damage caused to the parking lot, the City is proposing to vacate this portion of the alley and deed it to the owner of the business. The estimated cost to repair the parking lot was $9500. Property owners on the west side of the alley have been notified of the City's request to vacate the alley by certified mail. An appraisal for the proposed alley vacation was obtained by the City with an estimated market value of$4,000. The City will save $5500 by vacating the alley instead of repairing the parking lot damage. Utility letters have been received from Illinois Power and Insight Communications stating agreement with the vacation and requesting that ingress and egress easements be reserved for utility maintenance. Since the south portion of the alley was previously vacated and the north portion is utilized as parking, the public right of way does not appear necessary to serve the general public; staff is of the opinion that the best interests of the City of Decatur would be served by approving the alley vacation and reserving an easement for utility maintenance. Staff recommends approval of the petition. The Administrative Policy of the City of Decatur requires that property vacation requests be submitted to the Plan Commission for a public hearing. Although a Plan Commission recommendation is not required, a motion to forward the request of Cal. No. 02-09 to the City Council with a recommendation of approval is suggested Mr. Shampine asked who uses the parking. Ms. Miller stated that Pride Cleaners does. Mr. Schiller asked if there were any responses received from letters mailed to the petitioner's neighbors. Ms. Miller answered no. Mr. Schiller asked about the damage and repair to the approach and sidewalk. Mr.Matt Newell, City Engineer,was present and stated that the damage on the drive and sidewalk existed before work was done by a City contractor. The owner of the property would replace the drive at a split cost with the City when the sidewalk work was done. A sewer line had collapsed and sewage