Council hears applicant request to vacate alley at 1409 S. Edison; planning commission gave unfavorable recommendation

An applicant seeking to vacate a portion of city‑owned alley adjacent to 1409 South Edison Street presented to the council, saying the gate blocking the alley predated the applicant’s 2011 purchase and that neighbors have maintained and used the area for years.

Diana, planning staff, described the alley and surrounding parcels and said the Planning Commission voted to bring an unfavorable recommendation on the vacation to council. Staff showed aerial imagery and photos indicating the alley dead‑ends at state property to the north, where a concrete/brick wall and a parking area exist; staff also noted the northern approach from 13th Street is blocked before the state parcel by the Utah Power and Light facility.

The applicant said Rocky Mountain Power and other utility providers had not requested access through the applicant’s portion of the alley during prior maintenance events and that utilities access poles from the state property to the north. Neighbors present told staff and council they support the vacation.

Council members discussed a long‑standing city preference to keep alley rights‑of‑way where future redevelopment could create mid‑block connections or ADU access. Several members said the parcel’s adjacency to state property could raise the possibility the northern property might be redeveloped in the future, in which case retaining the alley could facilitate mid‑block circulation. Council members asked staff for additional analysis and did not take a vote tonight.

Why it matters: vacating city alleys removes public right‑of‑way and can limit future mid‑block access; council members asked for more time to weigh current utility access, state‑owned parcel conditions and longer‑term redevelopment prospects before deciding.

Next steps: staff to provide additional analysis and return the item for council consideration at a future meeting.