Milford planning commission recommends council vacate north end of alley at 657 West 200 North

The Milford Planning Commission voted July 9 to recommend that the Milford City Council vacate the north portion of the alleyway running behind properties in the 600–700 West block, including the alley adjacent to 657 West 200 North.

K., chair of the Milford Planning Commission, opened the planned zoning meeting and introduced the petition from residents Jason Bailey and Mallory Bailey. A staff member from the Milford Planning Department told the commission the petition asks only to vacate the north end of the alley and that certified notices had been sent to utilities and property owners within 300 feet on July 1, the staff member said.

The petitioners told the commission they and several neighbors want the north section vacated so adjacent property owners can maintain the area; the staff member said all abutting owners on the block signed the petition except for Linda Merriweather, who is deceased, and that one owner — Carrie Hardy — signed but wrote she supported vacating the north end only because she needs alley access to reach her backyard.

The commission’s discussion focused on access and utilities. The staff member said there is no recorded utility easement within the alley itself; utilities generally run in front yard easements, though South Central (the local utility) has equipment in the rear of some lots. The staff member added that a deed and title search handled after a council decision would resolve any outstanding utility or title questions.

Commissioners also discussed an existing shed that sits in the alley and would need to be moved onto the owner’s property if the vacation proceeds. The staff member said the petitioners and staff plan to notify any affected property owners and that the council will hold a public hearing before deeds are prepared and recorded at the county.

After discussion, a planning commission member moved to recommend the council vacate the north portion of the alley as described in the petition; the motion was seconded by Garland and carried. The staff member told the commission the Milford City Council will hold a public hearing on the request at its next meeting, scheduled for Tuesday at 4 p.m.

Votes at a glance: - Motion: Approve minutes from the June 11, 2025 public hearing and regular meeting. Mover: Luke Ambrose; Second: Lene Malcus. Outcome: Approved by the commission (no roll-call tally provided in the transcript). - Motion: Recommend the Milford City Council vacate the north portion of the alleyway adjacent to lots behind 600–700 West (petition by Jason and Mallory Bailey). Mover: not specified in the transcript; Second: Garland. Outcome: Motion carries; recommendation sent to Milford City Council for public hearing.

Why it matters: Vacating the alley would transfer the city’s right-of-way to adjacent property owners (the staff member explained the 14.85-foot alley would generally split roughly 7.43 feet to each adjoining lot). That transfer could affect property access for neighbors now using the rear space to reach yards, and it requires the council to confirm there are no active utility easements that would be disrupted.

Next steps: The planning commission’s recommendation goes to the Milford City Council. If the council votes to accept the petition after a public hearing, deeds will be prepared and recorded at the county to split the vacated alley among adjoining property owners; any outstanding utility or title issues would be addressed in that process.

The meeting also included routine commission reports and adjourned at the end of business.