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<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
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