HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Council Action Form dated August 27, 1991 COUNCIL ACTION FORM
Item #
Date: August 27, 1991
SUBJECT: Vacation of public right of way at 6th Street and Ridgewood
Avenue.
BACKGROUND:
The property owner of the house at the northeast corner of 6th and
Ridgewood wishes to construct a fence to screen his property. The
property lies on the north side of 6th Street just west of the bridge over
the Chicago Northwestern railroad tracks. See the attached plat.
At the present time, the fence is approximately one-half constructed since
no permit is required and a misunderstanding arose as to the location of
the property line. Under usual circumstances, the property line is one
foot behind the sidewalk. In this instance, the sidewalk is not located
near the property line because of the fill placed to provide the clearance
from the railroad tracks. 'Thus the sidewalk construction started one foot
behind the sidewalk. Upon seeing this situation, staff has asked that the
property owner stop the fence construction until determination is made as
to whether the fence can or should be legally constructed on public right
of way.
Concern has been raised about the sight distance restriction that the fence
will have for vehicles southbound on Ridgewood Avenue attempting to enter
6th Street traffic. A check of accident records indicates that this inter-
section has experienced one accident in the last five years. The existing
tree and brush growth as well as a power pole restrict the sight distance
from the intersection back to the east over the bridge such that most
drivers pull ahead of the normal stop area to improve the sight line.
If vacation is approved, the conveyance should be conditioned upon the
payment of $1,050, which is the value of the land in accordance with the
established policy of the City for land transfers. This policy uses the
value of the adjacent property and then reduces that value by 15% for
easements and 10% for quality of title since we only quit claim the proper-
ty. The second condition to the conveyance is that the proposed fence
construction shall be placed no closer than the dimensions shown on the
attached drawing.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Complete the vacation of the right of way and the land conveyance
with the payment of $1050 and the stipulation that the fence be
placed no closer to the street than the dimensions shown on the
attached drawing.
2. Reject the transfer concept and do not vacate the property.
CAF - Vacate 6th/Ridgewood
August 27, 1991
Page 2
MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
It is recommended by the City Manager that the City Council complete the
vacation of the right of way and the land conveyance conditioned upon the
receipt of $1,050 and the agreement that the fence can be constructed no
closer to the street than the dimensions shown on the attached drawing.
COUNCIL ACTION
PW:Orig
PROPERTY
PLAT
CITY OF AMES, IOWA ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
DATE K
OWNER: CITY OF AMES, IOWA
w — -- SCALE
Q I I" : 40'
� 3
O O 0 LOT 20 BLOCK 1 Z
3 YI d5
� a V
3 SW COR SE COR.
1671 _
WALK �
CUR
BRIDGE OVER
SIXTH STREET RAILROAD
CURB
Description:
Beginning at the Southwest Corner of Lot 20, Block 1, Chautauqua Park
Addition to the City of Ames, Iowa; thence south 11.0 feet; thence east parallel
to the south line of said Lot 20 a distance of 147.0 feet; thence northeasterly
11.0 feet to a point 9.0 feet south of the south line of said Lot 20; thence east
11.0 feet parallel to the south line of said Lot 20; thence northwesterly to the .
southeast corner of .said Lot 20; thence west along the south line of said Lot
20, a distance of 167.1 feet to the point of beginning, containing 1,814 square
feet more or less.
RECORDED:
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