2002-01 VACATING PORTION OF STREETS - 2200 BLOCK NORTH UNION STREET - 300-500 BLOCKS WEST HAY STREET

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Cal. No. 01-47 Petition of DECATtJR MEMORIAL HEALTH FOUNDATION, 2300 North Edward Street, to vacate the 2200 Block of North Union Street and the 300 through 500 block of West Hay Street. Ms. Miller presented the recommendation of staff: The petitioner is requesting the vacation of Hay and Union Streets in order to reduce the lane size of Hay Street and to facilitate additional parking near the hospital campus. The hospital plans to construct additional buildings on some of the existing parking lots. An access easement with the City of Decatur will be in place on West Hay betweenMonroe and Edward Streets. Hay Street will remain the entrance for the DMH emergency room. DMH has recently been granted variances to construct additional parking lots on residential property adjacent to their property. A petition to rezone one of the lots is on the agenda today. The variances were requested in order to expedite the construction of the parking facilities before the asphalt plants closed for the winter. City staff has met with DMH and requested that any additional changes in zoning be accompanied with a PUD. The submittal of the PUD is anticipated in the next few weeks. ' In June of 1996, the portion of North Union Street located between West Kenwood Avenue and ; West McKinley Avenue was vacated after a three month trial closure, a review by the Traffic and ' - Parking Commission, a recommendation from the Plan Commission and final approval by the ; City Council. The Traffic and Parking Commission reviewed the subject vacation request at the October 2001 meeting and determined that a one month notice posted by signs would be adequate rather than a three month closure period. The Traffic and Parking Commission reviewed the subject petition for vacation again at the November 2001 meeting. The pastor of St. Thomas Church, at 2160 North Edward Street, spoke against the petition. He was joined by several parishioners from St. Thomas. The main church is actually accessed from Union Street and the St. Thomas members expressed concern about access to the church from the north as well as emergency access. After receiving comments and concems from members of the public, the commission voted to recommend approval of the vacation of Hay and Union Streets. Decatur Memorial Hospital has offered the church the use of I the DMH parking lot at the southeast comer of Hay and Edward on Saturdays and Sundays, has offered to widen the two drive approaches on Edward Street to St. Thomas for emergency , vehicles and has offered to delay the closing of Union Street for three years. An appraisal for the proposed street vacations was submitted by the petitioner with an estimated market value of$71,800. A second appraisal was obtained by the City with an estimated market value of$66,000. The petitioner will pay the City of Decatur$71,800 for the vacation. Decatur Memorial Hospital owns the property on both sides of North Union Street between Hay Street and Kenwood Avenue. Decatur Memorial Hospital owns the property on both sides of Hay Street between North Union and North Edward Streets. Decatur Memorial Hospital owns the property on the north side of Hay between North Monroe and North Edward Street. Consent