Council postpones decision on vacation of a Fourth Street SE segment used by Buffalo Ridge Concrete

The council on June 2 voted to postpone action on a petition to vacate a portion of Fourth Street Southeast between Tenth and Eleventh avenues. The petitioners — the new owners of the former Concrete Dakota site operating as Buffalo Ridge Concrete — had asked the city to vacate an unimproved right-of-way that currently bisects their property and carries a private conveyor used in operations.

Community Development Manager Brandy Hinton explained the petition would tidy a long-standing situation where a conveyor and operations cross a public right-of-way; staff asked that any vacation be accompanied by recorded utility and drainage easements to preserve natural gas and drainage conveyance. Fire Chief Roland told the council the department had reviewed access needs and said apparatus could turn around on the adjoining parking area; staff said hydrant coverage is adequate.

Council members raised a separate longer-term planning issue: several council members recalled earlier discussions about establishing a westward connection from Highway 81 to Tenth Avenue and asked whether the city should seek a swap or other trade to preserve a future roadway alignment if the right-of-way is vacated. City engineering staff said the idea had merit but required further study and mapping; Councilman Danforth suggested the swap could be discussed with the petitioner.

Councilman Peters moved to suspend further action on the street vacation until the next regularly scheduled council meeting; Councilman Danforth seconded. The motion passed by voice vote. Staff said the petition will return for further consideration and that neighbors who expressed concern in the planning stage (including an adjacent property owner) should be contacted.