City may vacate Penn Street

WILIAMSBURG — St. Mary’s Catholic Church is asking the City of Williamsburg to vacate Penn Street north of the church to facilitate an addition that will make the church handicap accessible.

The city proposed vacating the street along the entire block between South Highland Street and Franklin Street.

During a public hearing Monday, Laura Sinn, who lives next to the church, asked the council how vacating the street would affect her.

Sinn loves at 106 E. Penn, and the front of her house faces Penn Street, though her driveway is on Franklin.

Sinn said she appreciates what the church is trying to do for its members, but she doesn’t want to lose parking in front of her house, and she doesn’t want to have to remove snow on it.

Snow removal would be the responsibility of the church if the street is vacated to the church, said City Manager Aaron Sandersfeld.

Jon Degen and Quinn Wolfe spoke for the church during the public hearing.

Degen said the church doesn’t object to the city vacating only the portion of the street in front of the church. “I thought you wanted us to take the whole length,” he said.

“I think it makes it cleaner,” said Sandersfeld.

Degen said the church simply wants to take care of the safety of its parishioners and anyone else who uses the church’s hall and parking lot across the street from the church.

“My main goal was just to get people in and out of church safely,” said Degen.

Council members seemed ready to approve the vacation until they discovered that Sinn’s house faces Penn.

“I didn’t realize the house faced the street, said Councilman Jeff Steinkamp.

Councilman Jack Tornholm said the city could vacate only the part of the street next to the church property.

Sinn said she would prefer that because she doesn’t want the house to face a private drive. Especially when she tries to sell it at some future date.

“I do appreciate what you’re trying to do,” said Sinn, but the church could do whatever it wanted with the street in the future if the city gives the street to the church.

The church could grant an easement to the property at 106 Penn to guarantee parking in front of the house if Sinn wants that, said Degen. “We don’t want to make our neighbors angry,” he said.

The church only needs the part of the street in front of the church, Degen said.

“Whatever you guys decide is fine with us,” Degen told the city council.

The project is not imminent. The church still has to receive approval from the diocese and from the parish, said Degen.

The City must have three readings of a resolution to vacate and three public hearings about it before it can vacate the street.

The council agreed to pursue the vacation and will discuss details at future meetings.

Councilmen Tyler Marshall and Dale Walter were absent.