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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-08-24 87-320 ORDER87-320 Introduced by Councilor Tilley, August 24, 1987 pp CITY OF BANGOR (TITLE.) @rbbtrr Accepting.City Englneer'sRego t Discontinuance., of a Portion of French Street By the oft Commvd ofdw City ofBanoot: 08DEMt THAT the attached report of the City Engineer relative to the discontinuance of a portion of French Street, beginning. 105 feet north of Congress Street and extending in a northerly direction for a distance of 610 feet, be and hereby is accepted. AND, BE IT FURTHER ORDERED THAT, said portion of French Street be discontinued as a public way and removed from the Official City Map. 8]-320 4{ ORDER In .City Council August 24,, 8]itle, Passed 1IJJ Accepting City engineer's report Councilors Frankel& Lebo14z """"."""" "" excused from voting discontinuance of 'A_portion of •••••• French Street Introduced /) and filed by City Cie ... uneilman Ra— s2Y 7 August 24, 1987 N. Laurence Willey Number City Council City Hall I 1 1 Bangor,. Maine 04401 Dear Mr. Willey: I an writing in response tothe closure of French Street, by St. Joseph Hospital. In 1982 I had several conversations with Sister Mary Norberta, and from Mat I can see she is proceeding as planned in 1982. I Am all for the closure of French Street, so that the Hospital can expand and eventually have their main entrance off Broadway, not Center Street. I am a homeowner, with several apartments, located on the comer of Center Street and Congress Street. I reside at 94 Congress Street. I feel that with the entrance off Broadway, that it will minimize traffic on Center Street, sliming myself and my tenants easy access to Center Street. From what I understand the City asked the Hospital in 1982 not to proceed with growing on the Center Street side. The Hospital did as they were asked by the City. therefore I feel St. Joseph Hospital should certainly be allowed to close the portion of French Street that they see fit. I am writing this as I a unable to attend tonlghts meeting, because of work responsibilities. I would appreciate it if yen would please read my comments at tonights meeting. Thank you. Sincerely, -<Pf Owt.� Edward McCrea Hospital Neighbor cc: Charles Wellman, Hospital planner CITY of BANGOR, To the City Council: Purmmt in an order of the City Coumilorder... No._„ 877185, passed .._gay._0]a_1987 directing the City Engineer W byeat.discontinu¢...a..portim..of.Jisarvh..SLxeet... beginning 105' north at Congress Street and extending 610• north ......... ...._. .____ ......— .....__...._._ ....__. toward Broadway .... ....._ __—.. ......the City Engineer begs leave to report: That of his intention to tyvat.. diAcQAtinue, Said.. FOrtion..Of...Er euch_ Street. the City Engineer gave written notice by notices attached to emies of said order poefad for eevm days prior to the .....19th day_ of, Ju a 19 87 In two public plenns in the City of Banger and in the vielnity of said street, to nit: One On Pole No. 48, near #450 French Street One on Pole No. 54 NO. 496 French Street ...... ._._...__. _. ...... .._.----- ---- _------------- ---- One on bulletin board at City Nall ._...... ........ ......... . s ............. _...._.__. .....__---------------- and aim gave notice by sawsam ing the e to be published in the Eassme Davy Name, newspaper printed in said city, for me week prior no the.].9k0...day ._sf _JAipc_H]ropy a said order and notices, so posted and published, is hereto mnexed andnude part of this reyork And that the said City Engineer met at the time and plane of meeting speeded in the nations and proceeded tote awnsr discontinue. said_ French_ Street.,. as._fpl ows __,_, _. Beginning on the existing centerline of French Street at a point located 105' north Eras the northerly right-of-way line of Congress Street thence in northerly direction along said French Street centerline for a distance of 610' m a point. Said portion of French Street was originally laid out to a width of 50', and established as a public way on Septesber 4, 1865. There appeared at the time and place set for the nesting Sharon Bushey, 485 French Street; Gwendolyn Shepard, 63 Grant Street; Peter Baway, 110-112 Cro ress Street; Lowell T. Sherwood, Jr., Bangor Real Estate; Charles Wellman, St. Joseph's Healthcare Foundation; Donald Nelson, 392-394 Broadway, John L. Johnson, Jr., 390 Broadway; Mary Ward, 410 French Street; Bud Cushman, 351 Broadway; Kenneth Jordan, Jr., and Incise; A. Russell, Attorneys for St. Joseph's Healthcare Foundation, and the City Engineer. Ton Russell, speaking on behalf of St. Joseph's, indicated that St. Joseph's awns all the property abutting the proposed area to be discontinued, end waives any despise which might normally be due to an abutter in accordance with State Statutes. Mary Ward expressed concerns about possible loss of property value, and also the possible remuti g of emergency vehicle traffic approaching the Hospital. Butl Cushman also was concerned shoot the potential of increased traffic on Broadway which might result fmn the closing of French Street, feeling that omre traffic would pass by Broadway Park, frequented by children, and mre traffic would back up at the traffic signal at North French Street. After inquiry by Mr. Cushavn, Mr. Wellman indicated that the new Hospital wing and parking lot would probably result in the mnatmction of a new entrance road directly onto Broadway midway between French Street and Congress Street. Ken Jordan, representing St. Joseph's, indicated that the Planning Spend had previously been made aware of the Hospital's proposed expansion, and a new entrance onto Broadway was recampnded by them. Peter Dawmy asked about the difficulties of winter maintenance, and the City Engineer indicated that while no tum-arourds are to be constructed at the dead -ands, there would be reap to tum at the parking area entrances; the Hospital weld have to cooperate with the City on coordinating plowing operations. 'The City Engineer also pointed out that there would be approximately 610' less mad m plus, since all further use or malnteman ca would be by the Hospital. Mr. Cushman asked as to who would pay for the relocation of the existing water main which passes through the area to be discontinued, and the City Enginswer Engineinfomoed him that if relocation were necessary, it would have to be paid for by the Hospital. The City Engineer indicated that he did rot feel that any damages were justified on be paid to the existing property owners on the proposed dead - and portions of French Street, at the Broadway and Caxgrea; Street ends. Hoaver, he indicated that he felt the existing property owners would have access to Broadway which is equal to the access presently existing. Because of the concerns expressed regarding traffic, and because a suitable explanation was net given as to how traffic would he rerouted from the existing and proposed new parking lots, the City Engineer suggested that St. Joseph's should update their previous traffic study to indicate the iupact on Congress Street, and should he prepared to make a presentation to the residents regarding traffic impact before a report was to be submitted to the City Council. Accordingly, another meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, August 12, 1987 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. St. Joseph's was represented by ILEeesne-Heruy, consulting engineers, who presented the results of the traffic study at the August 12th meeting. Mr. Tom Gorrill made the presentation to those present. Mr. Gorrill indicated that there are presently a total of 64 parking spaces in the area between the proposed new Hospital wing and Congress Street, and that present counts slew a peak hour discharge onto Congress street of thirty cars; he indicated that as part of the new construction, parking would be limited to a total of twenty-two cars in that area, to serve only a counseling center, with a peak hour discharge ofsixteen care, indicating a decrease of fourteen cars.. Mr. Gorrill also indicated that there are presently fifty-eight peak hour cars which make a left turn onto Broadway at the nortMrly end of French Street, and that this center would be reduced to twenty-three peak hour movarents after the new wing is constructed the balance of the traffic would be using new 90 -car parking lot adjacent to Prennh Street, which would have access to Broadway by way of the nes entrance road. Consequently, it would appear that there will be less traffic exiting onto Congress Street and Speedway by way of French Street once, the center portion is discontinued. The City Engineer told ticee present that it is necessary for him to determine the public need when deciding as to whether a street should be discontinued. The traffic study has indicated a very low volare of thru traffic so that the discontinuance world not have any significant impact on the general public use. The traffic study also indicated that there would In less traffic Coning form the 9Gspital area Onto Congress Street or Broadway by way of French street, which would indicate less impact on the residents in those areas. Consequently, since there did not wean to be a need to retain the street as a public way once the Hospital had fully developed both sides of the land abutting the discontinued portion, the City Engineer indicated that he would recamend to the City Council that the street be discontinued as a public way, and that no damages be recommended as a result of said discontinuance. Accordingly, it is redxvmended that that portion of French Street as described above be discontinued as a public way and removed from the Official City Map. 'A public easement should be retained for existing public utilities. The Planning Board has previously taken action to recmmeM ramal fran the official City Map. Respectfully sur itted, John T. Frawley� City Engineer J1F/jdr