2002-19 REZONING PROPERTY - 3500 BLOCK OF NORTH CHARLES STREET

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Decatur City Plan Commission Apri14, 2002 Page Twelve Although the development will result in a somewhat higher density use, staff does not anticipate excess traffic or noise from this proposal. According to the petitioner, prospective residents will rnostly be transported to and from the site, i.e. there would not be an overall increase in vehicular traffic and there will be a single point of ingress and egress. Regarding the sanitary sewer and storm water drainage situation, the City's Engineering and Infrastructure Department will work with the petitioner on extending sewer mains to the proposed development and its neighborhood on a future date. In addition, the petitioner proposes extending a 12-inch corrugated metal pipe across Charles Street and drain it in their proposed storm sewer system to relieve some of the storm sewer drainage problems on Charles Street. , The proposed development is consistent with the Decatur Urban Land Use Plan. Staff believes that the proposed use is compatible with the neighborhood and would be beneficial in terms of extension of utilities. Further, staff does not believe that the proposed use would create increased traffic or noise, nor will it negatively affect the locality and therefore recommends approval of the petition aS presented. Mrs. Sands asked if there are plans to upgrade the street. Ms. Ahmed stated that there are future plans to upgrade Charles Street. Mrs. Sands stated that it is the worst street in the city. Mr. Newell stated that he agreed and it was intended to be repaired this year. With the proposed development drainage issues need to be addressed first as water now stands on the road. Sanitary sewer will be extended to the development. The road would be repaired next spring or summer. The developer will be required to construct the portion of the site lower so that water can be conveyed. Mrs. Sands asked if the owner of this property is the sarne as the owner of the mobile home park Mr. Newell stated that the owner is the same and there has been difficulty getting him to cooperate regarding the drainage issues. The development will allow the opportunity to require that the improvements be made. Mr. Grady Wilkinson, Heritage Behavioral Health Center, was present and spoke for the petition stating that this type of development would help to address the housing problems for clients in treatment for mental illness. The mentally ill are often forced into substandard housing and Mr. Wilkinson knows of over 100 persons in this situation. He stated that it is a fact of life that the clients are discriminated against on the open housing market. The petition proposes small, manageable complexes with one bedroom, one story apartments. Mr. Wilkinson stated that he had been working with the Department of Housing and Urban Development and this location was found and an option taken on it. The project would be in three phases with the first complex to be built on Charles Street. There would be three apartment buildings with six units in each. The third building would have a seventh apartment for a