SYRACUSE - Several neighbors of property owned by Doug and Jeanine Schrock spoke up against vacating the alley during a public hearing at the Syracuse Town Council Tuesday.
Attorney Steve Snyder spoke for the Schrocks and said they want to build a house on the two lots and in order to do so they need to increase the setback, so they want to eliminate the right-of-way. Snyder said it’s not open, but it is a public way.
Snyder told the council, “The question is whether if it’ll interfere with access to other properties — the adjacent properties have direct access to the street and whether it will interfere with development — the area is fully developed, and it is a dead end.”
Snyder said, according to the statute, the Schrocks own the land under the right-of-way so they’re not transferring any titles, they’re just eliminating public access.
Cory Mast, 1102 N. Hiawatha Drive, spoke against the vacation. He and other neighbors have been maintaining the alley as a yard and Mast has parked his boat trailer there. He said when he moved in, there was a tree and large flower box and he spent $1,000 to remove them to make it easier for the power company to get in and access without driving in the yards.
“We, as neighbors, agreed to use it to bring in vehicles or a boat,” he said and added they were concerned “if just the short 30 feet is given up, the rest of it might be assumed to be a driveway.”
Councilman Larry Siegel said he was abstaining because, “I can’t vote against my neighbors.”
Councilman Bill Muser said he had no objections but in all the years he’s been on council, “This guy (Siegel) has never vacated an alley or given up any city property.”
Don Yoder said he’s lived there (608 E. Northshore Drive) 18 years and took over maintaining the area and trucks use the easement to access the power lines. Brenda Donat has lot 17 —612 E. Northshore Drive —right next to the two lots and she said, “This affects us all.”
She said the neighbors have worked harmoniously regarding the alley and said her grandkids play out there. Donat said the lots are narrow and she didn’t want people driving through her yard.
Council President Cindy Kaiser asked Public Works Superintendent Mark Aurich if he had concerns and Aurich responded that he didn’t know about it, had no idea if there were utilities there and said there was going to be quite a bit of work done in that neighborhood and he thought they should check things out before they make a decision.
Councilman Nate Scherer, who attended virtually, asked if a variance could take care of this instead of eliminating the right-of-way. Snyder said until they have construction plans there would be no way of knowing.
Musser made a motion to table it until next month to give Aurich time to investigate the situation and the council agreed.
Ordinances Passed
The council passed two ordinances — the first to allow for outdoor dining. Those wishing to offer outdoor dining must apply annually and request a certificate of approval. As part of the application, they need to provide a rendering showing the proposed outdoor dining area and proof of liability insurance. The ordinance also spells out certain design restrictions, upkeep and removal after season.
They also passed an ordinance making the alley between Portland Street and Brooklyn Street one-way north. Police Chief Jim Layne said there have been complaints because traffic has increased and it’s narrow. Signs will be posted and violators will be fined.
Issues With Pier
Town Manager David Wilkinson brought a request from the resident at 800 N. Long Drive who asked to have the town pier shifted a couple of feet to the south as he has a lot of watercrafts and he wants a swimming area. Wilkinson said apparently this issue has been brought up in the past and the pier would need to be reworked.
Siegel said people dock their pontoons or boats at the pier and it blocks the resident’s ability to use his own pier.
Kaiser said they should probably shift the pier and add an extension. Wilkinson said the pier actually is the chamber of commerce’s, the town just maintains it.
Jeff Dyson, with the chamber, was present and said the pier is aging and town would have liability if someone were to be hurt. The chamber is open to discussion about the pier — if a business wants to help donate, for example.
Wilkinson will work with the chamber on the issue.
Wilkinson also brought up that on the Dolan Drive property that the town is deeding to the library they “found an anomaly.” MACOG (Michiana Area Council of Government) offered a grant up to $25,000 to remove it but if the soil was contaminated or it was a concrete vault, for example, it would be up to the town or the library to pay that cost.
The council told him to move forward with it.
In other business:
• After much discussion, settled on some changes to a rental agreement with Indiana Telephone Network for the water tower.
• Approved accepting deed of utilities for Koko Drive.
• Approved a letter of agreement with Bose, McKinney and Evans for annexation of North Trace RV Park.
• Approved allotting $115,480 of American Rescue Plan Act funds to the park department for a metal roof for the community building by Premier Roof Construction.
• Approved paying $5,515 to Kosciusko County for interlocal agreement for reporting system.
• Town attorney Jay Rigdon said he prepared a response to an Indiana Public Access complaint.