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<br /> ... "": <br />\. <br /> Council Bill No. 50 - Vacating utility easement between Echo Hollow Road and Cata- <br /> lina, north of Willhi Street, was submitted and read the first <br /> time by council bill number and title only, there being no councilman present requesting <br /> that it be read in full. <br />~. Mrs. Beal moved seconded by Mr. Teague that the bill be read the second time by council <br /> bill number only, with unanimous consent of the Council, illdthat enactment be considered <br /> at this time. Motion carried unanimoUsly, and the bill was read the second time by council <br /> bill number only. <br /> Mrs. B,eal moved seconded by Mr. Teague that the .bill be approved and given final passage. <br /> ~ollcall vote. All councilmen present voting aye, the bill was declared passed and <br /> numbered 16594. <br /> Council Bill No. 51 - Vacating alley between Pearl and High from 11th Avenue north <br /> was submitted and read the first time by council bill number and title only, there being <br /> no councilman present requesting that it be read in full. <br /> Planning Comrnissillon recommended vacation of the alley subject to (1) relocation of <br /> utilities now in the alley at expense of Benjamin Franklin Savings &. LOan, (2) conformance <br /> to plans with respect to pedestrian access and bicycle paths; (3) maintenance of land- <br /> scaping; and (4) preservation of large maple tree. Manager eXplained that to perrni t <br /> location of the Benjamin Franklin building on the lot between Pearl and High facing 11th <br /> and to preserve a large maple tree on the side nearest Pearl Street, the applicant in <br /> trying to work out the necessary off-street parking concluded it desirable to place the <br />. building across the alley. <br /> Rolland Bowles, architect for Benjamin Franklin, displayed a plot plan of the property <br /> showing location of the building, the tree, parking to allow ingress and egress (ap- <br /> proved by the Traffi c Department)., et c. <br /> Manager read letters from Dr. John P. MacKinnon, 258 East lath Avenue; Mrs. D. E. Dumond, <br /> 1744 Moss Street; and Dr. Chester L. Stevenson, 258 East lath Avenue objecting to vaca- <br /> tion of the alley on the basis of need for access. <br /> David Gwyther, 2334 Floral Hill Drive, called the proposed building a promotional scheme <br /> and asked postponement of Council consideration. Anna Benson, 561 East 12th Avenue, <br /> noted Benjamin Franklin's advertising as operating o~ly in "Independence Hall" buildings <br /> and called attention to the traditional type building the firm occupies in Astoria,Oregon. <br /> I Dr. John MacKinnon, Jr., 258 East lath Avenue; Mrs. Joseph Waldstein, 1270 East 22nd <br /> Avenue; Otto Vonderheit, 260 East 11th Avenue; and Dr. John MacKinnon, Sr., 25~'East lath <br /> Avenue, objected to closure of the alley. Their objections were based on insufficient <br /> I room for traffic movements, not to public interest for safety, loss of bicycle route, <br /> limited space for f~re engines, lo~s of ,route for traffic leaving ,o~f~ce~ in the area, <br /> breaking continuity of north/south alley running from 7th to 18th, etc. Dr. MacKinnon,Sr. , <br /> suggested traffic count in the alley before a decision is made on its vacation. <br /> . Archie Weinstein, 666 Willamette Street, wondered if there .was .misunderstanding about <br /> the portion of the alley petitioned for vacation. It was pointed out on a map as the <br /> I alley running north from 11th Avenue to the east/west alley from Pearl to High. <br /> Manager said that Traffic Department did review the proposed vacation and, although <br /> traffic counts w~re not i;aken, it should be mentioned that alleys" are generally for the <br /> purpose of service to abutting properties and not designed to be used as thoroughfares. <br /> Movements across 11th from either the north or south would be discouraged as hazardous <br /> with preference for use of traffic $ignals at intersectic~ri. co~ers. Wi th regard to <br /> space for traffic movements if the alley is vacated, he said extension of the east/west <br /> alley would adequately handle turn movements. No problem is anticipated with regard to <br /> access to the area by fire trucks. <br /> Mrs. Campbell noted no objection to the vacation at the time it was considered by the <br /> Planning Commission. Jim Saul, Planning Department, said there were no objections at <br /> that time, although the vacation was advertised as required. <br /> Mr. McDonald referred to Planning Commission member Bonnett's vote against the vacation <br /> on the basis of "public interest" and asked if a building can be constructed on vacated <br /> land. Manager explained that title to vacated land reverts to owners of abutting prop- <br /> . erties, thereby making the land pri V9-te property. Councilmen McDonal<:l and Teague ex- <br /> pressed concern about vacating alleys in the downtown area and the.resulting effect on <br /> traffic. Mrs. Beal's concern was whether this vacation would serve the public interest. <br /> Mr. Bradshaw expressed the opinion that the proposed plans would provide better pedestrian <br /> ways and bicycle routes and, so would serve to alleviate traffic congestion ih that area. <br /> Councilman Williams said there seemed to be a serious questmon as to whether the public <br /> interest would be served by vacation when so many of the public express opposition and <br /> st~te - they - use the alley. ~3~ <br />- 8/14/72 - 2 <br />