Commission recommends vacating portion of alley behind 816 S. Sixth for St. Joseph Wind Supply development

The St. Joseph Planning Commission voted to recommend vacating a portion of the alley behind 816 South Sixth to accommodate a new combined showroom, office and warehouse for St. Joseph Wind Supply.

Staff told commissioners the request, made on the recommendation of Kevin Schneider, assistant director of public works, would not eliminate access to adjacent property owners’ portions of the alley but would remove through access; staff said the applicant must grant a sewer easement in place of the vacated alley and that the traffic commission recommended the vacation.

Commissioners asked staff to confirm that notices had been provided to adjacent owners and whether any property owners would lose access; staff said affected owners had signed consent forms and specifically noted Brown had signed off. Staff explained the developer intends to regrade and pave the alley portion to match proposed site grading and to fence the area for security, and that vacating the public alley would simplify those improvements.

No members of the public rose to speak in favor or opposition during the meeting. A commissioner moved to approve the vacation and the motion carried; staff confirmed the action is a recommendation that will be transmitted to City Council for final action.

The commission’s recommendation requires the applicant to provide the sewer easement described by staff before the city will finalize the vacation. The City Council will receive the item as a recommendation and hold its own first-reading process with an opportunity for proponents and opponents to comment there.