Raleigh council approves closing dead-end portion of Old Millburnie Road

Raleigh City Council voted to close a dead-end segment of Old Millburnie Road to accommodate a proposed subdivision, while retaining private utility and stormwater easements.

Transportation planner Amanda Jones told the council the "area indicated in red is the, area being petitioned to be closed. It currently is a dead end street." She said the portion proposed for closure "is a dead end, and it's no longer in use," after a realignment associated with the 540 West subdivision created the current travelway under NCDOT right-of-way.

The city presentation said the closure is required to advance a subdivision plan now under review for 277 single-family dwellings and that closing the right-of-way would "provide a grid network throughout the development and improve road connectivity." Jones also said the closure aligns with Policy T 2.7 of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan and that city staff would want private utility and stormwater easements to be retained.

Aaron Katz of JPM South Development, who, as the petitioner, described the segment as a "leftover and a dead end," said traffic now flows on the newly realigned portion and that the closure is a condition of the approved subdivision.

The council opened one public hearing, heard from the petitioner and then, after closing the hearing, a council member moved to close the segment "while keeping the necessary easements that are required for utilities and stormwater." The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote; the record does not show a roll-call tally.

The closure will become effective according to the council's adopted resolution and staff will forward a copy to NCDOT as required by the referenced statute. The council explicitly preserved the easements for utilities and stormwater in the motion.

The council did not specify a vote tally on the record, and no written opposition was entered during the public hearing.