Staunton City Council on July 24 approved ordinances to vacate portions of undeveloped Peach Street and Pinehurst Road that lie within lots in the Hidden Glen plat, after staff said the city has no interest in developing the segments and the Planning Commission recommended approval with conditions.

City staff said the portions were replatted and already functionally removed from the street system; the city’s records do not show an earlier ordinance completing the planned vacation from a prior plat. The Planning Commission held a public hearing June 18, heard no opposition, and recommended approval on the condition that the applicants draft and record a deed dedicating the reserved public utility easement.

Tim Hartless, a city staff member who presented the item, told council the easement shown on the Hidden Glen plat was never officially dedicated by deed, and staff asked the applicants to draft the necessary deed for recording concurrently with the ordinance of vacation. An applicant representative, Daniel Hanson of Balzer and Associates, and an adjacent property owner attended the public hearing; the owner said she needed access to lots she is selling after a recent estate matter.

After public comment and staff clarifications, council adopted the two ordinances in separate votes. The council’s roll call recorded an affirmative vote by all members present: Councilor Park, Councilor Campbell, Councilor Overholtzer, Councilor Woods, Councilor Shepherd, Vice Mayor Arrowood and Mayor Mary Edwards.

Discussion versus formal action: staff identified the legal/platting issues and the Planning Commission set a condition; the council’s formal action was to adopt the ordinances to vacate the two street segments, subject to the Planning Commission condition that the public-utility-easement deed be prepared and recorded.

Practical effect and next steps: council and staff said the deeds must be recorded with the circuit court before the vacation is placed on a council agenda for final recordation; staff indicated no city infrastructure will be affected and the vacations do not impede access to adjacent lots.

The record of the two votes and the Planning Commission condition will be part of the ordinance filings and the clerk’s office record for the Hidden Glen plat.