Commissioners adopt ordinance vacating unimproved road right-of-way in Zionsville area

The Boone County Commissioners unanimously approved Ordinance 2025‑01, vacating an unimproved road right‑of‑way in the Zionsville area and transferring the vacated land to abutting property owners by deed.

Attorney Mike Andreoli, representing the Hislips and Howell families, told commissioners the area in question had been the subject of a roadway easement agreement in the 1960s and a partial dedication in 1985, but there has never been a constructed roadway and the land is heavily forested. Andreoli said surrounding properties are now served by White Oak Court and a newly built road (Maryville Road) provides outlet and pedestrian access elsewhere; the Johnson family land to which the old easement would have connected is now planned as a public park and provides no vehicular outlet for the right‑of‑way.

Andreoli said he had obtained signed consents and waivers from adjoining property owners and that the dedicated, unimproved area served no present public purpose. The ordinance states that notice of public hearing was published, abutting landowners waived notice and consented to the vacation, the easement is delineated in an exhibit to the ordinance, and the county waives any assessment of benefits and transfers the property without cost. The board opened and closed the public hearing during the meeting; no members of the public registered objection.

The board moved, seconded and passed the ordinance by voice vote. Under the ordinance each abutting landowner will assume one half of the vacated property adjacent to their lots as described in the ordinance exhibits. Commissioners instructed staff to complete the administrative transfer steps and update county records to remove the unimproved right‑of‑way from the county inventory.