Committee forwards ordinance changes to streamline right‑of‑way vacations, reduces adjacent‑owner signature requirement

The Public Works and Property Vacation Committee voted to send Bill 725 to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation. The bill contains targeted amendments to the city's right‑of‑way vacation ordinance intended to clarify the process, reduce procedural roadblocks and provide clearer pre‑application guidance for petitioners.

Chris Dressler of the city’s Community Investment office reviewed the changes, telling the committee the 2024 ordinance established useful structure but left some practical gaps. Dressler said staff recommends several largely procedural fixes: adding clear pre‑application review guidance for petitioners, formalizing coordinated steps at the Board of Public Works level, and clarifying fee timing by splitting fees so petitioners pay a $150 filing fee and an added $300 processing fee only if they proceed further.

Dressler also described notification and filing changes: the ordinance will require petitioners to provide one initial set of mailings rather than two and will require staff attendance at hearings. He said the change is intended to help petitioners who previously stumbled through inconsistent procedures.

Jenna Thro, City Attorney, explained a significant change to the adjacent‑owner signature requirement. "What we're asking now is for them to try to get signatures from 51% of the adjoining landowners whose property lines would actually be affected by the vacation," Thro said, adding that the city will accept documented proof of attempts to contact owners when a signature cannot be obtained. She said the revision addresses situations in which a single unreachable adjacent owner previously could halt an otherwise viable petition.

Dressler said the office will also prepare a standard form of ordinance and an information packet to give petitioners a clearer, uniform process. The committee discussed making the 51% threshold and proof‑of‑attempts practical and not punitive; members said they expect petitioners to show good‑faith outreach to adjoining owners.

A motion to forward Bill 725 to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation passed on roll call with all ayes. Committee members said the changes should reduce delays for legitimate petitioners while preserving notice to nearby property owners and the broader 150‑foot notice required under state and local procedure.

Following the committee vote, the bill will go to the Committee of the Whole; staff said they will update 311 scripts, the packet materials, and posting language once the ordinance is finalized.