Council approves closing a Lane College segment, citing student safety after resident objections

Jackson City Council approved on second reading an ordinance to close and abandon a portion of Lane Avenue between North Hays and Middleton Street; the final tally on second reading recorded seven votes in favor and one abstention.

Lane College officials told the council the closure is requested to increase safety for students who cross the segment; "The ask is primarily to ensure the safety of students," Lane College representative Dr. Coleman said, noting the campus has facilities on both sides of the street and that vehicle movement presented a safety risk. Councilmembers also said they had received written assurances from the police and fire departments that emergency services access would not be impeded.

Several dozen residents addressed the council during public comment and opposed a permanent closure, saying the section is a local east–west connector and that permanent closure would reroute traffic onto narrow neighborhood streets. "A street closure would affect everyone with rerouted traffic, increased traffic onto nearby streets, which are very narrow," Pamela Newell said during public comment, and other neighbors cited difficulty for funeral processions, school buses, deliveries and emergency vehicles if the segment were closed.

Planning staff explained that notices are sent to property owners directly affected by a closure; in this case Lane College owned the abutting parcels and was the petitioner, which is why the city did not mail notices to other nearby homeowners. Council members questioned the magnitude of diverted traffic and asked whether the closure would create impediments for ambulances and fire vehicles. Several members reported they had asked public safety leadership and received assurances that response plans account for closures.

Council members framed their votes as weighing safety versus convenience. A councilmember who later disclosed an employment relationship with Lane College said the conflict was noted for the record before voting. The ordinance passed on second reading with seven votes in favor and one abstention; the closure applies only to the campus‑adjacent segment and leaves North Hays and Middleton Street open for access.