Council agrees to begin process to sell small Town strip on Greenway Drive after resident request

A couple who have maintained a narrow strip of town land on Greenway Drive asked the Town Council Tuesday to allow them to purchase the strip so they can plant evergreen screening and stop ongoing maintenance work. The council authorized the administration to begin the formal sale process, subject to public notice, findings of fact and purchaser responsibility for conveyance costs.

The McKenzies told the council they had been maintaining a 5‑foot by 95‑foot parcel of shrubs and hedges for years and assumed it belonged to their property; town records showed the strip is town land deeded to the town in 1975 along with six similar strips in the neighborhood. Council members said they were generally sympathetic but emphasized the need for a formal process so the town could document the unusual case and avoid setting an unchecked precedent.

Council discussion focused on next steps: the solicitor advised that a resolution, public hearing, advertisement and a formal conveyance vote would be required; the council said it would expect findings of fact explaining why the sale is appropriate for this particular parcel, and that the purchaser should bear all conveyance and recording costs. The council also asked staff to research the other similar strips in the neighborhood but to keep the McKenzies’ request moving forward on its own track.

A motion to authorize the administration to proceed with the sale process was made by Tim and seconded by Tony; the council voted by voice in favor and instructed staff to prepare the required public notice and supporting findings for a future meeting.

The council noted the sale would not be final until public advertisement, a public hearing and a formal vote; any conveyance would be recorded and costs borne by the purchaser.