87-73 VACATING PORTION OF STREET DIPPER LANE SANITARY DISTRICT OF DECATUR

Home Browse Search

• . Page 2 width and 1324.75 feet in length or 79,485 S.F. or 1.82472 acres which is a very small part of the overall Sanitary District land holdings of approximately 280 acres. The land is part of Dipper Lane and extends from approximately 65� South of W. Macon Street Southward for 1324.75 ' . Site improvements on the strip include an oil and chip surfaced street approximately 22' in width. A power line with wood poles is located a few feet to the East of the oil and chip surface. Several short strips of oil and chip or rock surfacing lead Westward from the North-South road. There does not appear to be any building improvements on the area �to be vacated. The only other site improvement on the area in question is some 6' high chain link fencing at the North end of the area to be vacated. Topography of the land to be vacated slopes from North to South. An earthen dike has been built along the East side of the proposed vacated area which serves as part of the pro- tective dike system to keep the Sangamon River overflow from in- undating the sanitary plant and land. HIGHEST AND BEST USE Highest and best use for the area in question is for at least a por- tion of it to be used for the main roadway access from public roads in Decatur to the main Sanitary plant. Another road connecting the Northern part of Dipper Lane north of W. Main Street to the Sani- tary plant could be constructed on land now owned by the Sanitary District but this would be far more costly than acquiring the pre- sent right-of-way and maintaining or improving it. The petition for vacation in this case recites that the petitioner has construct- ed and maintained that portion of Dipper Lane being requested to be vacated so it is assumed that the City has not had to spend funds to maintain the roadway as they do most city streets. Vacating the area in question would not appear to inconvenience other citizens of Decatur as it appears that the only people using the area in question are either Sanitary District employees or contractors working for them or people having business with the District. Vacation of the area in question so the Sanitary District facility can be fenced appears to be a desirable safety feature. The petition for vacation recites that access to city police and fire will not be restricted. VALUATION As previously mentioned we are not, in this case, seeking market value as normally defined but rather a value which reflects the en- hancement of the petitioners land as a result of the vacation. The record indicates that the Sanitary District already maintains the roadway at their expense. It would be cheaper to acquire the subject area by vacation rather than to build a new roadway. The '