The city council opened the floor to the public as motions were made to approve vacating three alleys in Charleston because they were advised by the Public Works Department to vote down the three ordinances.

The council also placed the approval of the large subdivision development off Woodfall Drive on file for two weeks pending public inspection.

“I apologize to anyone hoping we would vacate the alleys,” said Mayor John Inyart to the public as the council voted no unanimously on all three ordinances to vacate the alleys between Hayes and Garfield; Hayes and Grant; and Adams and Washington Avenues.

“We thought it would be in the best interest of the city, but it’s really not,” he said.

The three ordinances were placed on file at the Nov. 4 meeting pending public inspection.

Since that meeting, Director of Public Works Carl Buescher advised the council and City Manager Scott Smith that the alleys’ loss of the 6-foot setback from the original property line would be hazardous to utility work. Water, sewer and other utility lines would have the possibility of being encroached upon by private property owners who want to build up to the new property line.

“If we needed to go in and fix or relocate a water or sewer line there is a possibility we could damage the buildings, not be able to add what we need to the utilities or add trench protection devices, compromising the safety of our workers,” Inyart said.

“It is better that we know now,” said Council Member Lorelei Sims. “We need to retain as much space as possible. I live there – I know.”

The floor was open before the vote of all three ordinances.

No one spoke. All three motions failed.

“I don’t know that we’ve ever voted down three things in a row since the time I’ve been in office,” Inyart said.

The large subdivision’s approval for a concept plan in the planned unit development and the general approval of the planned unit development were placed on file by the council per the recommendation of City Planner Steve Pamperin.

City Attorney Brian Bower explained the development would have to go before the zoning board and the council again before any real development takes place.

The council still heeded Pamperin’s wishes.

“The city doesn’t have any concerns with the development,” Pamperin said. “With any project this size, we just want to give the community ample time to respond and comment.”

Ridge Estates, which is planned east of University Village, is a rental complex that is aimed at single-family homes qualified for on an income basis under Section 42 under the IRS code by RichSmith Development.

Section 42 allows private developers to have lower rents by getting their loan money up front and having lower loan payments allocated by the state. It was developed under President Ronald Reagan in 1986. The developer hired a market researcher that found more than 1,500 residents of Charleston would qualify for the lower income housing units.

“This is not aimed towards students,” said Vice President of Development and General Counsel Danielle Litaker-Nall. “In fact, about 90 percent of the college students in Charleston could not qualify.”

In other items, the city also approved amendments to the Personnel Code after 23 years of it sitting on the shelf.

New policies include a cell phone and computer use and safety guideline, the implementation of the family medical leave act and others.

A Tax Increment Finance grant was gifted to Ed Carter, owner of 720 Jackson Ave., to rehabilitate his property. Carter received the approval of $47,545 from the TIF. The council approved the annual application to the State of Illinois Federal Surplus Program. The program gives participants the option to purchase used government surplus property.

Krystal Moya can be reached at 581-7945 or at ksmoya@eiu.edu.