Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council moves alley-vacation ordinance to second reading after resident concerns and staff briefing
Summary
A public hearing on vacating an alley segment off Grand Avenue between Elizabeth and Main Street prompted questions about access, number of affected properties and school plans; Council placed Ordinance 1-23-25 (vacation request by Air Force Community Schools) on second reading for further review.
Lima City Council held a public hearing May 19 on a petition by Air Force Community Schools to vacate a segment of alley off Grand Avenue between Elizabeth Street and Main Street and voted to place the related ordinance (1-23-25) on second reading for further review.
Resident Patsy Hale, who lives at 674 North Elizabeth Street, spoke at the hearing and said she uses the alley to access the rear of her property and did not know what would happen to that access if the alley were vacated. City staff and planning representatives described the petition: Air Force Community Schools owns two parcels fronting on Main Street and seeks to partially vacate the alley to create a playground area for an adjacent school facility. Planning staff said property owners north of the school would retain two-way access from Murphy Street.
Council members and staff discussed details including how many properties have garages facing the affected alley segment (staff estimated “about six” based on aerial photos), whether an apartment building’s parking should be counted in that total, and that some access changes would redirect vehicles to Murphy Street rather than Grand Avenue. Planning commission members who reviewed the petition had walked the alley, staff said. There was also a question raised about whether a for-sale sign is currently on a parcel Air Force is vacating; staff confirmed a for-sale sign is present and that the district intends to occupy another nearby property at 799 North Main and use the vacated portion for play space.
After staff and public comments, councilors debated and an attempt to pass Ordinance 1-23-25 on first reading was withdrawn by the mover at the administration’s request. A subsequent motion to place Ordinance 1-23-25 on second reading passed; the council did not adopt the alley vacation ordinance at the meeting.
Because the petition is endorsed by the City Planning Commission, city staff indicated reports, maps and related documents are on file in the Clerk’s office for public inspection. No final decision on the alley vacation was made; council directed additional review and placed the ordinance on second reading.
