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East Ridge planning commission approves abandonment of portion of Old Ringo Road
Summary
The City of East Ridge Planning Commission voted 4-0 on Jan. 15 to approve a request by developer UrbanStory Ventures to abandon about 682 feet of Old Ringo Road to support redevelopment of the Osborne Shopping Center; easements will be required for a sewer main and aerial power lines and adjacent property owners may receive land and tax changes.
The City of East Ridge Planning Commission on Jan. 15 approved a developer request to abandon a roughly 682-foot section of Old Ringo Road, a move intended to clear land for redevelopment at the Osborne Shopping Center.
The action, approved on a 4-0 roll call with Vice Chairperson Howe absent, applies to a paved stretch about 30 feet wide running from Wimberly Lane west to the entrance of a nearby parking lot. Commissioners heard staff say the underused block could be repurposed as part of a mixed-use redevelopment and a paved public walkway to improve pedestrian access to dining and retail options.
Mister Howell, a planning staff member, summarized the request and told commissioners that the abandonment aligns with the redevelopment plan included in the packet. “Staff recommends to approve,” Howell said. The commission then voted to approve the abandonment after a motion from Commission member Witt and a second from Commission member Cornelius.
The agenda item listed parcel tax IDs affected by the request (168D F001; 168D F001.01; 168D F002; 168D J031 through 168D J034; and 168D J037). Howell said the area contains a sewer main and aerial power lines and noted one fire hydrant nearby; he said those utilities would require easements if the abandonment is finalized and that the fire marshal will confirm hydrant access during plan review.
Brad Shumpert, Executive Vice President of UrbanStory Ventures, told the commission the developer and adjacent property owners had been notified and discussed possibilities for acquiring portions of the abandoned road to create a uniform redevelopment parcel. Commissioners asked staff whether adjacent homeowners were made aware that half of an abandoned roadway often reverts to adjoining property owners and that such changes can affect property tax rolls; Howell said letters were sent but that the notification letter does not typically explain tax consequences in detail.
Commissioners also noted the adjacent parcels are in the R-1 residential zone but retain road frontage via Wimberly Lane and Weldon Drive, which Howell said would preserve residential usability. Staff and the developer emphasized that alternate routes remain available and that the abandonment would have minimal impact on vehicular traffic while creating improved pedestrian connections.
Plans and final approvals will require recorded easements for the sewer main and the aerial power lines and will be subject to site-plan review, utility easement documentation and fire marshal confirmation of hydrant access before redevelopment proceeds.
