Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Right Of Way topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning commission finds Little Debbie Parkway strip excess; sale to adjacent owner approved pending title review
Summary
The Collegedale Planning Commission determined a roughly 2.6-acre strip of right-of-way along Little Debbie Parkway is excess and recommended sale to the adjacent parcel owner subject to title review and a condition limiting sale to the adjacent owner; neighbors urged the commission to preserve or confirm existing neighborhood access.
The Collegedale Planning Commission voted unanimously to determine a portion of right-of-way along Little Debbie Parkway is excess and to permit its sale to the adjacent property owner pending a title-company opinion and a condition that only the adjacent property owner may purchase the strip.
Staff presentation and recommended process: Jason (planning staff) presented a staff engineering review concluding the marked strip—about 2.6 acres adjacent to parcel ID 131096.1 (approximately 10.3 acres per Hamilton County assessor)—is not needed for present or planned public infrastructure. Staff described the next steps if the commission finds the right-of-way excess: the applicant must obtain a certified appraisal, negotiate a fair-market price with the city, and submit a proposed sale for final approval by the Collegedale City Commission. Staff emphasized the petition before the commission was a determination of excess right-of-way and not approval of any specific development.
Commission concerns and conditions: Commissioners discussed width and irregularity of the strip (staff noted sections around 60 feet wide), visibility for adjacent businesses, and potential effects on existing driveways and monument signage. Commissioners added two conditions before forwarding a recommendation to City Commission: (1) a title-company review to identify any existing easements or access rights that must be honored, and (2) that the city limit the sale to the adjacent property owner (the applicant). The motion as passed also recorded that existing encumbrances would remain with the property unless cleared by title review.
Applicant and public comment: Mike Price, representing MAP Engineers, said historical access in the area likely served the Wittenberg tract and that the applicant would reserve sufficient right-of-way for future multimodal improvements. Several Stratford Place/Stratford Point neighbors spoke in opposition to reopening or formalizing an access between the Mona Lee Lane cul-de-sac and Little Debbie Parkway. Veronica ("Ronnie") Stone (8804 Finney Point Drive) and nearby homeowners said the cul-de-sac had been used historically but was later closed and that residents did not want a public through-road that would remove the cul-de-sac, increase traffic, and reduce neighborhood privacy and safety. Other speakers asked that the city protect existing businesses’ visibility if the right-of-way is absorbed into an adjacent parcel.
Vote and next steps: The commission’s roll call was unanimous in favor: Commissioner William Johnson (yes), Mayor C. Lloyd (yes), Member Friesen (yes), Member Lehman (yes), Member Moody (yes), Vice Chairman Givens (yes) and Chairwoman Gray (yes). The recommendation will proceed to Collegedale City Commission with the two added conditions; after appraisal and negotiation, final sale requires City Commission approval.
