Oviedo council directs staff to begin vacation of small Franklin Street right-of-way

OVIEDO, Fla. — The Oviedo City Council on Monday directed staff to begin the formal process to vacate part of a narrow right of way between Franklin Street and Geneva Drive, clearing the way for property adjustments near a small commercial parcel.

City staff presented a map and analysis showing the subject right of way is about 23.5 to 24 feet wide and runs from Franklin Street north to Geneva Drive. City staff said they recommend vacating the south 107 feet of the strip while leaving a triangular portion on the north side as public right of way so Lot 34 A would retain roughly 24 feet of frontage.

City staff member Mr. Cobb told the council that the city’s Code of Ordinances, chapter 42, governs road vacations and that staff could not locate public utilities in the strip. “We did determine in our initial analysis that this right of way does not have a public purpose,” Mr. Cobb said. He advised reserving easements if utilities are later found and noted the south 107-foot parcel would meet the land development code’s 20-foot frontage minimum for Lot 34 A.

The discussion traced the parcel’s unusual geometry to an old plat and noted previous vacation actions on the north side of Geneva Drive for similarly small, hard-to-develop triangles. Council members asked staff whether the mobility plan calls for using the strip in the future; Mr. Cobb said the city’s mobility planning did not identify a need to use this right of way or widen Franklin Street at this location.

Mayor Megan Sladek, who had previously asked staff to bring the item back for discussion, said vacating the section would make the adjacent properties more contiguous and “give[] an opportunity for something that is a little bit more contiguous” for small lots in the area. Council member Keith Britton and Council member Alan Ott said they saw no immediate need to retain the strip and supported initiating the process, while Council member Bradford said, “No. I’m not for it.”

Council members instructed staff to prepare a sketch and legal description, provide at least 10 days’ notice to all adjacent property owners and return the item to a future council agenda for formal action. Mr. Cobb said staff will draft the resolution language, perform the required notifications and place the vacation on an upcoming council agenda for a public hearing.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda (approval of minutes from Aug. 18, 2025 regular session and Aug. 25, 2025 special session, and work session minutes): Motion by Mayor Megan Sladek, second by Council member Jeff Botaford; roll call — Mayor Megan Sladek: Aye; Council member Jeff Botaford: Aye; Deputy Mayor Natalie Teukert: Aye; Council member Keith Britton: Aye; Council member Alan Ott: Aye. Outcome: approved. - Direction to initiate right-of-way vacation process for the south 107 feet of the subject right of way between Franklin Street and Geneva Drive: Council direction provided to staff to initiate the process; no formal roll-call vote recorded at the discussion. Staff will prepare a sketch/description, notify adjacent owners (minimum 10 days’ notice) and return the item to a future agenda for a public hearing.

Background and next steps Staff said the strip appears to be part of an older plat configuration and that past vacations elsewhere in the area created small triangular parcels difficult to develop. The property that stands adjacent to the strip is occupied by a business identified in the discussion as Briskets Barbecue; staff said the current tenant expressed interest but only property owners can apply for a vacation. The city will notify adjacent property owners and schedule the item for formal consideration once the sketch and legal description are complete.

The council moved on to other business after giving staff direction; no formal vacation ordinance was adopted at the Oct. 6 meeting.