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Council opens public hearing and approves first reading to vacate alley near Saint Margaret’s for school safety
Summary
The council approved first reading of an ordinance to vacate a 20-foot alley adjacent to Saint Margaret’s Church and School and accepted a replat; the council also asked for a fair-market analysis to determine possible compensation to the city.
The Riverton City Council held a public hearing and approved first reading of Ordinance 25-004 to vacate a 20-foot alley between Lots 1–6 and Lots 7–12 in Block 2 of the original town of Riverton, a change requested by Saint Margaret’s Catholic Church and School to improve student safety.
Saint Margaret’s Principal Megan Mosbrucker and a fifth-grade student spoke at the podium about the school’s enrollment and security concerns. Mosbrucker said the school serves preschool through fifth grade, currently about 70 students (she said capacity is roughly 120), and that petitioning property owners (14 of 21 at application time; 66%) had signed in favor. The petition would consolidate multiple lots and establish a 20-foot utility, drainage and private-access easement in place of the alley so utilities and sanitation service would remain accessible. Mosbrucker said gates would be closed during school hours (approximately 8:05 a.m.–2:45 p.m.) and open outside school hours, that emergency-service access would be assured and that Saint Margaret’s would maintain the alley area.
Public commenters, including nearby neighbors and residents, largely supported student-safety measures while noting operational details such as gate override and emergency access should be included in implementation. Council members asked questions about enrollment, capacity, and whether an appraisal had been done; Mosbrucker said petitioners had done informal inquiries but no formal appraisal yet.
Councilmembers approved the ordinance on first reading after closing the public hearing. Separately, Councilman Eric Carr moved and the council approved a motion requiring a broker’s fair-market analysis of the 0.14 acres proposed for vacation so the council can decide whether to demand compensation under state statute. That motion passed; staff will pursue a market analysis and report back before subsequent readings.
Planning Commission had unanimously recommended approval. City staff noted statutory requirements for alley vacation petitions under Wyoming statute 15-4-305 and that the petition met the majority-owner/majority-parcel threshold required by statute.
