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Mr. Cochran noted that the entrances remain the same as were probably constructed for single <br /> family homes. The approaches will be expanded to serve the ch�ch and emergency vehicles. <br /> When vacated, the property becomes the property of the hospital and there will be crosswalks <br /> provided as well as other security measure. It is important to have the ability to monitor the <br /> parking lot. <br /> Mr. Cochran stated that the City has been very cooperative but the request has been before the <br /> City three times to acquire variances. The hospital has requested vacations in the past and is <br /> sympathetic to the church's concerns. The impact on traffic to the church would be very limited. <br /> Mr. Cochran stated that the hospital has been a good neighbor to the church and provides the <br /> most advertisements iri their bulletin. Eighteen parking spaces have been leased frorn the church <br /> although the hospital was recently notified that the least will not be renewed. Decatur Memorial <br /> Hospital sponsors Homework Hangout with food donations. <br /> Mr. Cochran stated that the parking lot would be constructed to the Fire Department's request <br /> and suggested there might be a possible change in policy as station number one is one half mile <br /> closer than station#5. Mr. Cochran stated that the foundation is still prepared for Union Street to <br /> remain open for three years. The church would be able to continue to use the parking and <br /> hospital funds would be used to widen the driveways. Mr.Cochran stated that for the continued <br /> growth of the hospital it is important the vacations be approved. <br /> Mr. Shampine asked why the Fire Department would need an easement to enter the property. <br /> Mr. Cochran stated that the word "easement" may be the wrong choice of word as the Fire <br /> Department requested pavement construction to handle the weight of their trucks. <br /> Mr. Cochran stated that the closing of streets is not necessarily negative in a residential area as <br /> the City closed many streets in the Near North area at the request of the neighborhood. Mr. <br /> Schiller stated that this is not the same type of request as a neighborhood group requesting a <br /> change in their area. He stated that the people who use this street the most may be the <br /> parishioners of St. Thomas Church on weekends. <br /> Mr. Matt Newell,Assistant City Engineer, was present to address questions raised regarding the <br /> traffic count. Mr. Newell stated that the traffic count was taken on a week day which is standard <br /> procedure in a non-commercial area. Traffic is usually higher during the week on residential <br /> streets with neighborhood businesses even such as this with a church. Although the church <br /> traffic may be intense for a specific period of time, during the week people are taking their <br /> children, going to the bank, and making several other types of trips whidi make traffic higher <br /> during the week outside of a retail area. <br /> Mr. Setina stated that the traffic of the church on Saturday and Sunday had been discounted. Mr. <br /> Newell stated that staff was not discounting the weekend tra�c to the church but at those tirnes <br /> there is no extraneous flows of traffic which happen daily throughout the week. . <br /> Mr. Schiller asked if it was a matter of practicality to widen the drives. Mr.Cochran stated that <br /> the drives are very narrow and had not been widened when the parking lot was consh-ucted. <br />