To

Mayor and Council

Subject

Abandonement of Leonard St

Initiator

Donna Newman, Director of Engineering

Recommendation

Approve the Resolution deleting from the "Official Map of the Consolidated \n \n Government of Columbus, Georgia" the improved segment of Leonard Street \n \n between the east right-of-way line of Forest Avenue and the west right-of-way \n \n line of Wildwood Avenue, declaring it surplus, and authorizing its disposal in \n \n accordance with state law and under the conditions outlined in the approved \n \n Resolution.

Approval

Pending

Background

On April 11, 2017, representatives from St. Paul United Methodist Church, 2101

Wildwood Avenue, came before Council with a presentation on expansion of their

current facilities including the proposed closure and acquisition of

right-of-way for Leonard Street. Council requested review by Public Safety and

a Public Meeting be held concerning the proposed closure of the City street.

Analysis

A public meeting was held on May 8, 2017 with more than 55 in attendance.

Attached is a summary of comments that were received at the meeting or in the

mail at a later date. At the request of the residents in opposition to the

closure, a subsequent meeting with Mayor Teresa Tomlinson and residents was

held on May 15, 2017. A copy of the presentation was sent to the Columbus

Police Department, Columbus Fire and EMS and Muscogee County School District

for comments related to impact to operation and response times as a result of

the closure of the street. None of those had any concerns related to the

proposed closure. Staff recommends a conditional approval of the closure and

disposal. Copies of the request from the neighborhood and conditions committed

by the church are attached.



There is an average of 234 vehicles on school weekdays, 217 vpd on Saturday and

150 vpd on Sunday.

Financial Considerations

Staff is currently obtaining appraisals of the value of the right-of- way.

Also St. Paul will also be responsible for any expenses incurred as part of the

closure.

Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement

The City will no longer be responsible for maintenance of the street.

Legal Considerations

The Columbus Council has the sole authority to abandon City streets and to

approve their disposal. The property will be disposed in accordance with state

law.

Recommendations/ Actions

Approve the Resolution deleting from the "Official Map of the Consolidated

Government of Columbus, Georgia" the improved segment of Leonard Street

between the east right-of-way line of Forest Avenue and the west right-of-way

line of Wildwood Avenue and abandoning the same in accordance with state law.





RESOLUTION



NO.__________



A RESOLUTION CHANGING THE OFFICIAL STREET MAP AND TAX MAPS OF THE CONSOLIDATED

GOVERNMENT OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA BY OFFICIALLY CLOSING AND ABANDONING A SEGMENT

OF LEONARD STREET RIGHT OF WAY BEGINNING AT THE EAST RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF

FOREST AVENUE AND RUNNING NORTH EASTWARD TO THE WEST RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF

WILDWOOD AVENUE; PROVIDING THAT ALL EXISTING UTILITIES EASEMENTS OF RECORD

SHALL REMAIN IN EFFECT; PROVIDING APPROPRIATE WIDTH EASEMENTS SHALL BE RESERVED

AS REQUIRED BY THE UTILITY COMPANIES SERVING ADJOINING STREETS AND PROPERTIES

FOR UNKNOWN UTILITIES; AUTHORIZING THE DISPOSAL OF THE SAID RIGHT OF WAY IN

ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE LAW CONTINGENT UPON CERTAIN STATED CONDITIONS;

AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.



___________________________________________



THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:



SECTION I.



The ?Official Street Map, Consolidated Government of Columbus, Georgia?

maintained in accordance with Section 18.1 of the Columbus Code and appropriate

Tax Map is hereby amended by deleting the following:

"All that tract or parcel of land situate, lying and being in Land Lot 74,

Coweta Reserve, Columbus, Muscogee, County, Georgia, being more particularly

known as that portion of public right of way designated as Leonard Street lying

between Forest Avenue and Wildwood Avenue, being more particularly described as

follows:



COMMENCING at an iron pin located at the intersection of the North right of way

line of Leonard Street and the West right of way line of Forest Avenue;

thence N75?44'49"E for a distance of 61.16 feet to an iron pin located at the

intersection of the North right of way line of Leonard Street and the East

right of way line of Forest Avenue; said point also being the POINT OF

BEGINNING; thence along the North right of way line of Leonard Street N64?

53'01"E for a distance of 307.51 feet to an iron pin located on the West right

of way of Wildwood Avenue; thence S27?12'57"E for a distance of 30.02 feet to

an iron pin located at the intersection of the South right of way line of

Leonard Street and the West right of way of Wildwood Avenue; thence along the

South right of way line of Leonard Street S64?53'01"W for a distance of 308.56

feet to an iron pin located at the intersection of the South right of way line

of Leonard Street and the East right of way line of Forest Avenue; thence N25?

13'02"W for a distance of 30 feet to an iron pin and THE POINT OF BEGINNING.



Together with and subject to covenants, easements, and restrictions of record.



Said tract or parcel containing 0.212ac. more or less."



A copy of the survey drawing entitled "Survey of Leonard Street " showing the

portion of right of way to be abandoned is attached to this Resolution as

Exhibit A.



SECTION II.



This Council finds that the segment of right of way described in

Section I above no longer serves a substantial public purpose. This

abandonment is hereby declared to be in the best public interest. Accordingly,

said segment is hereby declared abandoned and removed from the Official Street

Map of Columbus, Georgia in accordance with O.C.G.A. Section 32-7-2(c). The

City Manager is authorized to dispose of the property to the adjacent property

owner in accordance with the provisions of O.C.G.A. Section 32-7-4(a).



SECTION III.



All existing utility easements of record shall remain in effect and

providing appropriate width easements shall be reserved as required by the

utility companies serving adjoin streets and properties for unknown utilities.



SECTION IV.



This transaction is subject to the following conditions:



1.) St. Paul will hold neighborhood update meetings at the church at least

once per month. All concerned neighbors will be invited to attend.

2.) Concerns from adjacent neighbors regarding landscape will be incorporated

into the final landscape design and included as part of the site development

permit. The final will be reviewed with the neighbors before work commences.

The site shall meet or exceed the 10 TDU and all other elements of the UDO

related to tree preservation and replacement, landscape and buffer requirements.

3.) The existing air-cooled chiller will be replaced with new air-cooled

chiller as soon as practical after completion of the engineering of the

system. Acoustic measures shall be taken to minimize noise pollution in

accordance with City Ordinances.

4.) Pedestrian access for public between Wildwood Avenue and Forest Avenue

will be reviewed and approved by the Department of Engineering with the goal to

maintain pedestrian food traffic through the area.

5.) The dumpster will be retained in its current location and screened

according to City Ordinances.

6.) Subsurface stormwater detention is currently proposed. Any other

alternatives will be approved by the Department of Engineering and reviewed

with the neighbors.

7.) Exterior Lighting will be designed to provide adequate lighting in

according with City Ordinances with cutoff at the property lines to prevent

intrusion into the neighborhoods.

8.) St. Paul will continue to allow Columbus High Students who are church

members to utilize the parking lots on school days.

9.) Any exterior construction shall comply with the City Ordinances for noise

regulation.

Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia

held on the ___ day of June , 2017 and adopted at said meeting by the

affirmative vote of _______members of Council.



Councilor Allen voting _________

Councilor Baker voting _________

Councilor Barnes voting ________

Councilor Davis voting _________

Councilor Garrett voting _______

Councilor Henderson voting _____

Councilor Huff voting __________

Councilor Thomas voting ________

Councilor Pugh voting __________

Councilor Woodson voting _______





_________________________ _____________________________

TINY B. WASHINGTON, CLERK TERESA PIKE TOMLINSON, MAYOR

No attachments for this document.