Hollywood Park council amends ordinance to allow split conveyance of Havenhurst Drive

Hollywood Park — The City Council on Tuesday amended a prior ordinance to allow the partial conveyance of Havenhurst Drive, a dead-end right-of-way, so that abutting property owners may take ownership of equal halves once each owner records an approved replat.

The change modifies the earlier 2023 ordinance that required both adjoining owners to complete replats at the same time. City Attorney (City attorney) said the amendment will split the former right-of-way 50/50 and make each half effective when the individual owner's replat is recorded with the county.

The matter came to council after resident Ben Jordan, whose property borders the right-of-way, asked the city to adjust the earlier ordinance so one owner could replat and take their share even if the neighbor was not ready. Jordan told the council he and his family had maintained the parcel since moving to 2019 and had experienced vehicles driving through the yard and other damage.

City Attorney clarified that existing utility easements shown on plats will remain in place and are not vacated by the conveyance. "Those easements will always belong to the entity, the utility that is maintaining the lines that are below those easements," the attorney said. The attorney also said a fee-simple conveyance — a full-title sale with a title search — is not required here because the city is not charging for the property; instead the ordinance conveyance plus the recorded replat will put the parcel on the county appraisal rolls as part of the purchaser's lot.

Councilmembers discussed whether to convey the entire parcel to one owner if the neighbor declined their half. The attorney said the ordinance allows the abutting owner to take 50% now; the other 50% remains available to the neighbor or a future owner who chooses to replat. Jordan said he would continue to maintain the property if the neighbor did not take its portion.

The council adopted the amendment to Ordinance No. 2046 by vote; the ordinance amendment requires the abutting owner to record a replat to finalize the conveyance and preserves existing utility easements.

Looking ahead, City staff said replats will need to show the preserved easements and that any required permits (for fences, driveways, etc.) must follow standard permitting procedures.

Council recorded no other immediate changes to the parcel beyond the amendment and instructed staff to process replats when submitted.