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File #: 140102    Version: 0 Name:
Type: Bill Status: ENACTED
File created: 2/20/2014 In control: Committee on Streets and Services
On agenda: Final action: 4/24/2014
Title: Authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 308 by striking from the City Plan and vacating Cypress Street from Broad Street to Watts Street and reserving and placing on the City Plan a right-of-way for various utility purposes, such as may be necessary, within a portion of Cypress Street being stricken, under certain terms and conditions.
Sponsors: Councilmember Squilla
Indexes: CITY PLAN, STRIKE FROM & VACATE
Attachments: 1. CertifiedCopy14010200.pdf
 
Title
Authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 308 by striking from the City Plan and vacating Cypress Street from Broad Street to Watts Street and reserving and placing on the City Plan a right-of-way for various utility purposes, such as may be necessary, within a portion of Cypress Street being stricken, under certain terms and conditions.
 
Body
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
 
SECTION 1.  Pursuant to Section 11-403 of The Philadelphia Code, the Board of Surveyors of the Department of Streets is hereby authorized to revise the lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 308 by:
  1. Striking from the City Plan and vacating Cypress Street from Broad Street to Watts Street.
  2. Reserving and placing on the City Plan a right-of-way for sewer and drainage purposes, water main purposes, gas main purposes, and public utility purposes, such as may be necessary, within the portion of Cypress Street being stricken from Watts Street to a point approximately sixty feet westwardly therefrom.
 
SECTION 2.  This authorization is conditional upon compliance with the following requirements within two (2) years from the date this Ordinance becomes law:
  1. The filing of an agreement, satisfactory to the City Solicitor, by the owner(s) of property affected thereby, to release the City from all damages or claims for damages which may arise by reason of the City Plan changes authorized herein; in lieu thereof, only after the party in interest has demonstrated best efforts to obtain such agreements and such efforts are unsuccessful, the party in interest shall file an agreement and a bond, with corporate surety, satisfactory to the City Solicitor or an irrevocable letter of credit satisfactory to the City Solicitor, to release the City as aforesaid.
  2. The filing of an agreement, satisfactory to the City Solicitor, by the party in interest, to release, indemnify, and defend the City from all damages or claims for damages that may arise by reason of the City Plan changes authorized herein.
  3. The filing of an agreement, satisfactory to the City Solicitor, by the party in interest, to make any and all changes and adjustments to curbing, sidewalk paving, cartway paving, water pipe, fire hydrants, sewers, inlets and manholes, street light poles and equipment, and to other City structures either overhead, underground, or upon the surface, including the relocation, abandonment, repairing, reconstruction, cutting, and sealing of such structures and facilities which may be necessary in the judgment of the Department of Streets and the Water Department by reason of the City Plan changes authorized herein.  The agreement shall provide for the removal of all existing City-owned street lighting poles and equipment and for their delivery to the storage yard of the Street Lighting Division at 701 Ramona Avenue at no cost to the City.  The agreement shall provide for the removal of salvageable hydrants, valves, manhole covers, frames, and connections, as determined by the Water Department, and for their delivery to the storage yard of the Water Department located at Twenty-ninth Street and Cambria Street at no cost to the City.  The agreement shall also provide for the removal of salvageable cast iron manholes and covers, street inlet grates, frames and hoods, and inlet castings, as determined by the Water Department, and for their delivery to the storage yard of the Water Department located at 3201 Fox Street at no cost to the City.  The agreement shall provide that this work be completed within one year from the date of confirmation by the Board of Surveyors of the City Plan changes authorized by this Ordinance.
  4. The filing of an agreement, satisfactory to the City Solicitor, by the party in interest, to make any and all changes and adjustments to any public utility facilities which may be necessary in the judgment of PGW, PECO, Verizon, or any other public utility which maintains facilities within the area being stricken.  The agreement shall provide that this work be completed within one year from the date of confirmation by the Board of Surveyors of the City Plan changes authorized by this Ordinance.
  5. The party in interest shall file a bond, with corporate surety, satisfactory to the City Solicitor or an irrevocable letter of credit satisfactory to the City Solicitor, in an amount satisfactory to the Department of Streets and the Water Department, to cover the cost of the work required under Section 2(c) herein.
  6. The filing of an agreement, satisfactory to the City Solicitor, by the owner(s) of property affected thereby, granting to the City the aforesaid right-of-way for various utility purposes authorized in Section 1(b) of this Ordinance, if such right-of-way is determined to be necessary.  The agreement shall provide that no changes in grades shall be made and that no fences, buildings, or other structures, either overhead, underground, or upon the surface, shall be constructed within the lines of the right-of-way or abutting thereon, unless the plans for such structures shall first be submitted to and approved by the Water Department and any other public utility which maintains facilities within the right-of-way.  The agreement shall also grant the right-of-access and occupation at any and all times to the officers, agents, employees, and contractors of the City and any public utility which maintains facilities within the right-of-way for the purpose of construction, reconstruction, maintenance, alterations, repairs, and inspection of present and future facilities and structures.
  7. The payment by the party in interest of the cost of advertising the public hearing by the Board of Surveyors on the City Plan changes authorized by this Ordinance.
 
SECTION 3.  The Streets Commissioner, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, is hereby authorized to accept the grant to the City of the aforesaid right-of-way for various utility purposes authorized in Section 1(b) herein.
 
SECTION 4.  This Ordinance shall not become effective unless the sum of two hundred dollars ($200.00), toward costs thereof, is paid into the City Treasury within one hundred and twenty (120) days after this Ordinance becomes law.
 
 
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