2002-12-02 - Laserfiche WebLink

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4 PUBLIC HEARING/ORDINANCE : ABANDONING UTILITY EASEMENT IN VACATED RIGHT OF WAY ON DELEVAN STREET Mr. Craig Brown, City Attorney, explained that the City has been asked to abandon a utility easement, where there are no existing utilities, in exchange for relocated easements to allow for development of the property. The public hearing was opened. Mr. Kenneth Jackson, a resident of Ridge Street, asked if the City is giving away publ ic property. Mr. Brown said that the City is giving up an easement in exchange for other easements. As there were no further speakers, the public hearing was closed. Mr. Cox said there is a gain to the City by the property being developed, and noted that the project has been under consideration for the past four years. Responding to a question from Ms. Richards, Mr. Ron Higgins, Planner in Neighborhood Development Services, said that the new easements given to City will be four or five times the len gth of the original easement. On motion by Mr. Lynch, seconded by Mr. Caravati, the ordinance entitled "AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ABANDONMENT OF AN EASEMENT RESERVED BY ORDINANCE ADOPTED APRIL 16, 2001 LOCATED IN THE VACATED PORTION OF THE DELEVAN ST REET RIGHT - OF - WAY" was offered and carried over to the next meeting for consideration. ORDINANCE : CLOSING ALLEY OFF STONEHENGE AND ROCKLAND nd AVENUE (2 reading) Mr. Caravati said one of the issues to be considered in the street closing policy is opposi tion to the closing, and he will vote against the ordinance because there is opposition. Mr. Caravati said, in regard to the maintenance issues, that there is a long standing policy that neighbors are responsible for alley maintenance. Mr. Schilling sai d he visited neighbors about the alley closing. He said that while there were three people who did not sign the petition in support of the alley closing, there really is only one person who does not want it closed. Mr. Schilling said he is hesitant to su pport closing an alley when even one person opposes it, but does feel that the other neighbors have legitimate concerns. Mr. Schilling said the person who favors the closing has other access to get her truck to the property, and other neighbors told him they would allow her occasional access via the alley. Mr. Caravati suggested that it may be possible to close part of the alley, and said he hopes the neighbors can resolve their problems. Mr. Cox said he supports the closing. Mr. Lynch said he also supports closing the alley, noting that it is already de facto closed. Mr. Lynch said he feels there has been a breakdown in the neighbors trying to deal with the problem, and he thinks it would be best to close the alley and have the neighbors work it ou t from that perspective. Ms. Richards noted that the neighbors do not agree with the person who opposes the closing about why she needs it open, and said she will support the closing. The ordinance entitled "AN ORDINANCE CLOSING, VACATING AND DISCONTINU ING AN ALLEY, LOCATED IN THE 800 BLOCK OF STONEHENGE AVENUE BETWEEN STONEHENGE AVENUE AND ROCKLAND AVENUE,"