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Grande Hearing Continued to May 13
(posted Mar 16)
The Holt Road extension has now become a critical component in the proposed
vacation of Grande Avenue. The Plat Committee voted during its March 11
hearing to continue the hearing until May 13, despite objections from remonstrators.
Ice-Miller Attorney Tim Ochs, representing Allison Transmission, said Allison
joined the Metropolitan Development Department staff's continuance request
in order to have ample time to supply additional engineering work staff
requested. Ochs urged the continuance to May 13 to avoid delays caused
by spring breaks, and to make sure the additional engineering work is sufficient
for staff's report.
Ochs said Allison is spending another $15,000 to $20,000 to meet staff's
requests. The additional work also means examining Holt Road. The proposed
Holt Road route would require a portion of Allison Transmission's property.
During public meetings, Allison Transmisson Director of Public Relations
Eric Dickerson said Allison did not object to losing the property for the
road.
Senior Planner Ryan Hunt said Allison will be impacted by Holt Road and
wants to roll that development into the Grande Avenue issue. There is a
concern about the vacation becoming a "dead end" in the area.
Hunt explained the need for a continuance. "The petitioner wants to
facilitate that extension with the vacation petition. Staff is continuing
to review whether or not the proposed Holt Road would be needed to carry
the traffic displaced by the proposed vacation of Grande. Our hope is that
the continuance will provide the petitioner time to put together a proposal
to help facilitate that extension, as some of their property is located
within the proposed alignment."
Greater Garden City Civic Association President Merri Anderson said it should be a separate issue because the development of Holt Road is too far out into the future, and the loss of Grande Avenue would be a handicap for the west side. Anderson wants a concrete plan concerning Holt Road before giving up the "critical link" of Grande Avenue. She does not want to see a plan where Holt Road stops at 16th Street. She requested the petition be amended because it is not the same as what was presented to the public in October.
Anderson said she had a problem with a statement made during a March 4th
meeting that indicated the hearing had been continued, when in fact it
had not yet been voted on by the plat committee. "We are a little
disgruntled about that."
At the March 4th SPEED meeting, SRC Executive Director Scott Harris referred
to the March 11 hearing, saying "that has been continued to the April
8th meeting." Harris said it was his understanding that the DMD needed
more information and would take a couple of more weeks.
Joyce Bishop said initially the vacation of Grande Avenue started as a
"wish list" with Allison, because the Speedway Redevelopment
Commission asked the company about its needs. At that time, security issues
were not the concern, the justification for the closing had to do with
employees crossing the street and plant efficiencies.
Tom Glass, president of the 500 View Neighborhood Association, objected
to the continuance, saying that it is a benefit only to the petitioner.
He wanted to know why the city sought the continuance.
John Pappas Jr., Plat Committee Chairman, responded that staff is entitled
to a continuance as well.
Pappas encouraged the petitioner to continue to have meetings with the community. He said it could be a "good productive 60 days."
"It could be," Ochs said, referring that some people vowed to remonstrate anyway.
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