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Council vacates unused alley to clear legal hurdle for EPA cleanup of polluted parcel
Summary
Wooster City Council approved an ordinance to vacate an unnamed alley adjacent to two parcels so the property owner can provide full site control to the U.S. EPA and finish remediation work.
Wooster City Council on Monday voted to vacate an unused alley so the property owner can work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to finish cleanup of a polluted site.
The alley vacation, introduced as Ordinance 2025-01 and moved for immediate adoption after the council suspended its rules, covers an unnamed east–west alley between Wayne County parcels 64-01930 and 64-02038. Judge Duscher, speaking for the property owner, told council the alley is inaccessible because an adjacent highway cloverleaf removed the connecting roadway and that EPA work requires control of the entire site.
“The purpose of this is a sad purpose, and that is this site is is polluted,” Judge Duscher said. He told council the EPA has been “making some pretty good progress” but needs clear property control to finish remediation and that the same owner holds the lots on both sides of the alley.
Council members said the alley has no public use and agreed the vacation would allow the property owner and EPA to complete the cleanup. Council then suspended its three-reading rule, voted to adopt the ordinance and approved the vacation by roll call.
The ordinance’s immediate effect transfers ownership of the alley to the adjoining property owner (state law provides that vacated street or alley area is split between adjacent owners unless otherwise arranged), enabling the landowner to coordinate directly with the EPA and contractors. Participants at the hearing said the parcel is currently unusable until remediation is complete.
The council did not discuss development plans for the site beyond remediation and did not identify a timeline for the EPA’s remaining work. The law director and city engineer had reviewed the parcel and related materials before the hearing, the city said during the meeting.
The council’s action was procedural: it clears a municipal impediment so the property owner can transfer or consolidate title and cooperate with EPA requirements. No new city funding or remediation program was approved.
