97-38 AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 95-63

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Newell added that the original recommendation from the Police Department was for a fence-type look for the neighborhood. Pedestrian traffic is as great a concern as vehicular traf�c. As part of the design, there may be an ornamental fence structure constructed. That is still undecided. The object is to put up a visible barcier to discourage pedestrians as well as vehicles. David Brown appeared as owner of the apartment building at 340 South Monroe Street. He would like to move the barriers at the a11ey back 65 feet from Monroe Street. He has been before this Commission before asking for access to his parking lot from Monroe. He feels he can't rent the apartments to high quality people if the barrier is not moved. His tenants must drive through the entire neighborhood and a dark alley to get to the building as it is now designed. He feels that if the fence is moved, high quality people will be able to feel safe driving into the parking lot of his building. Paulson stated that the neighborhood group is neutral on the issue and would not object to giving the move a try. They have told Mr. Brown that, if the barrier is moved back, he may have people traveling through his parking lot believing it is access to the neighborhood. Brown added that he would pay for the fence if the barrier is moved. Shelith Whiting stated that the reason for having the barrier at the beginning of the alley is to create a visual barrier. There is more crime going on across Monroe Street, so creating a physical barrier as well as a visual barrier is the idea. This would also apply to foot traffic, which would create more problems. There is a concern that people will have to back out of the alley on to Monroe or turn around in the parking lot of the apartment building. Brown believes the move will not increase foot traffic since the a11ey will be completely secure. Chervinko agreed with Whiting that, if the barrier is moved back, it would open the visual barrier. Nordholm stated it is very hard to understand how 65 feet is significant to this project. He believes foot traffi� can go into the neighborhood at other areas. He believes that Mr. Brown is proposing a fence which would eliminate all foot traffic, and he would be in favor of giving this man a break and letting him try it. Jim Sober believes Mr. Brown has access to his building through the a11ey. Most of the nicer apartment buildings are away from the busy road. Mr. Brown is trying to take traffic off of the busy road and has the same access to his drive through the a11ey. Brown added that snow is not removed from the gravel a11ey, making it difficult to travel in the winter. He wants to stop the traffic in the a11ey. If the fence is moved back 65 feet, a11 the traffic from Monroe is stopped.