March 25, 2005

Re:  Huxtable & Assoc's. request to vacate part of Oregon St. near 12th St.

The Burroughs Creek Area Plan study committee discussed Huxtable's facility-expansion plans and associated street-vacation request at our regular March 23, 2005, meeting, as we have also done at prior meetings. 

The two members from the Old East Lawrence Neighborhood Association (Janet Good, President; and Dayna Carleton) made it clear that Old East Lawrence values Huxtable as a longtime local business and a good neighbor, and the committee was also supportive of the company's plans.

Public Works' March 15 memo recommends that the City reserve "a public easement over the east 50 ft. of [this 60-foot] right-of-way for the construction, maintenance, and use of all necessary facilities for utilities and public access, including pedestrian and bicycle uses."

The BCAP study committee believes such an easement will meet our design needs, where a 10-foot-wide Eastern Lawrence rail-trail will pass along the western edge of the new Burroughs Creek drainage project.

We recommend that this vacation be granted, provided specifically that the Staff-suggested easement is in place. 

We do not anticipate opposing Huxtable's request for an exception to Ord. 7841 (the building-permit moratorium), when the final site plan comes on for Commission approval.

We also suggest that the Commission consider waiving any requirement for the submitted 6-foot sidewalk, and any requirement that Huxtable must design or build this 300 ft. of the Rail-Trail in its final alignment.

Respectfully submitted by Michael Almon and James Grauerholz for the Burroughs Creek Area Plan study committee.