The Eleventh District Council on Sept. 8 voted to vacate unimproved alley public rights-of-way adjacent to the Chicago Street Water Treatment Plant and to rezone the property at 700 West Chicago Street to an institutional zoning classification. The actions were presented as cleanup measures to accommodate planned utility upgrades.

Ben (staff member) told the council the parcel was originally platted as residential lots and that several old alley rights-of-way were never formally vacated. He said the city intends to transfer the vacated rights-of-way to City of Lebanon utilities to allow planned improvements at the Chicago Street Water Treatment Plant. “We’ve decided let’s go ahead and get some of these things cleaned up for them, before they do that,” Ben said.

The rezoning ordinance would change approximately 1.9 acres at 700 West Chicago Street from an R4 residential classification to an institutional (IN) classification so the existing water treatment use is consistent with zoning. The staff presentation said the property had been a legally existing nonconforming use because the site remained residentially platted while housing a utility facility.

Rob (staff member) read the ordinances on behalf of the council and noted the Lebanon Plan Commission sent a favorable recommendation to the council for the rezone. The rezone ordinance specifically authorizes the director of planning to amend the official zoning map consistent with the change.

Council action occurred on second reading for both ordinances. A council member moved to approve each ordinance; Sierra Messenger (council member) is recorded as seconding both motions, and the council approved each measure by voice vote.

The ordinances include references to exhibits A and B that describe the parcels and rights-of-way to be vacated and conveyed to the utilities. The ordinances state they take effect in accordance with Indiana law.

No members of the public spoke on these items during the meeting. The council took no additional direction to staff beyond authorizing the map change and vacating the identified rights-of-way.