Preston council tables Gamble Avenue vacation after mixed public testimony and staff concerns

The Preston City Council on a motion Tuesday tabled a request to vacate Gamble Avenue between First and Second North so a nearby church could expand parking, after lengthy public testimony and staff warnings about future connectivity and utilities.

The council received divided input during a public hearing on a request by applicant Brandon Roberts, who told the council the church is interested in roughly 1.5 acres in phase 5 of his subdivision and that the land could be used for a parking lot to serve the temporary stake center and events such as the rodeo. "If they acquire that as a parking lot, having a road through it would just defeat the whole purpose," Roberts said.

Council staff and several residents countered that abandoning a street that appears on the city's major street plan could reduce future connectivity, complicate snow removal and remove flexibility for water looping. City Planner Sean Alverson said the existing end of Gamble lacks a turnaround and that "we won't have a water loop there, which, again, in general, more loops are better." He recommended keeping the street where possible.

Public testimony included several residents who said additional parking would benefit church attendees and year-occasion events. "The church parking lot is packed. There's no room for parking," resident Josh Harris said, arguing additional spaces would reduce on-street parking and benefit the rodeo and fair. Dixon Beckstead, also supporting the vacation, said the narrow residential character of Gamble made it a poor place for heavier event traffic.

A written comment from Robert Koren suggested developing both a parking lot and a method to handle snow storage, but urged retaining a visible street alignment if a paved parking lot is added.

Council discussion moved beyond the immediate land use question to broader downtown considerations after Councilman Dodge read a city letter showing the city had earlier proposed purchasing part of Benson Park from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Dodge urged a "nexus" tying any street vacation to a "meaningful public benefit," suggesting the council should ask the church again about Benson Park before making a final decision.

After discussion, Councilman Galla moved to table the decision and ask the applicant and the mayor to open talks with the church addressing three items: (1) whether the city can preserve a utility easement or otherwise "loop" water through the area if the street is vacated; (2) what the church plans for the end of the road (entrance to the parking lot or permanent block); and (3) whether church leadership will discuss Benson Park with the city. The motion was seconded and passed; during roll call Councilman Chris Larson was recorded as opposed while others voted to table the matter.

No formal final action to vacate the street was taken. The council asked staff to return with the requested information and placed the matter on the agenda for the meeting in 30 days.

The public hearing record included testimony on safety (speeding on the existing informal road), historical platting questions (whether Gamble was ever fully platted through phase 5), and practical details for a parking conversion (one or two rows of parking likely, extra room to pile snow). Roberts said the subdivision's original preliminary plat treated the subject land as the final development phase and that he designed phase 5 to be optional in case the church wanted the land.

The council made clear that a final vacation would require updating plats and possibly Planning and Zoning review; City Attorney Fuller (staff) said updating an approved preliminary plat would likely require additional PNZ (planning and zoning) procedures. "If this body said yes, we want to vacate that off the major street plan, then plat would have to be updated, and I think that would go through PNZ," Fuller said.

With questions still open about utilities, snow storage, access/egress and potential public benefits tied to Benson Park, the council did not vote to vacate the street and will revisit the item after the applicant and city staff report back.