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Council briefs and defers several street/alley vacation hearings in Hilliard and other neighborhoods
Summary
City staff briefed the council on three street and alley vacations—an unimproved alley between Central and Columbia in Hilliard, the north half of Rosewood Avenue, and a continued hearing on Cedar Street—and described conditions such as utility easements and closure work needed to proceed.
City staff presented three separate street and alley vacation items during the Oct. 20 agenda review.
Alley between Central and Columbia (Hilliard): Planning staff described an unimproved alley between Central and Columbia (Freya to Sycamore) in the Hilliard area that qualifies for a no-cost vacation under the nonuser statute. Staff said the alley was platted in 1889 and annexed into the city in 1907, meeting the timing criteria. Several private property owners petitioned for the vacation (a 100% petition on both sides), and staff said utilities (Lumen, Avista, Comcast and TDS) have facilities in the alley; easements will be reserved for those utilities and a water service connection will need relocation into Columbia as a condition of vacation.
North half of Rosewood Avenue: This item dates to an earlier vacation request (circa 2016) that only covered the north half of Rosewood between the east line of Helena Street and was not fully closed because closure work on Pittsburgh Street was outstanding. Staff said the developer has now provided plans to tie access into Pittsburgh Street and has satisfied the outstanding closure conditions, allowing the pending north-half vacation to proceed. The south half of the right of way remains unimpaired for half a block because property owners there did not petition to vacate.
Cedar Street: Staff briefed a continuation of the Cedar Street vacation hearing. The matter has a neighborhood meeting scheduled for Oct. 22 at the West Central Community Center, and staff said the hearing will continue and be set to conclude Nov. 3.
Council asked clarifying questions about petitioners' identities and property ownership; staff said one side of the Central–Columbia alley is owned largely by a single entity while the other side has multiple owners but that all affected property owners signed the petition. Staff confirmed there are no city utilities currently in the alley and that the alley is unimproved. Council agreed to defer or continue the hearings as appropriate and to present maps and additional materials at the next meeting for council and public review.
