Council delays ordinance to vacate North Defiance right-of-way until third reading

Defiance City Council on Oct. 14 postponed consideration of an ordinance that would vacate a 115.5-by-66-foot portion of Broadway Street adjacent to 224 Van Buren Street in the North Defiance plat.

Council member O'Donnell said the adjacent property owner at 224 Van Buren Street petitioned the city to vacate the unimproved portion of Broadway Street above lots 34 and 35 in the North Defiance addition. “The planning commission did recommend the vacation at last month's hearing,” O'Donnell said. The ordinance requires three full readings; the council is currently on the second reading.

Council member Corbett moved “to let this issue lie to come back for a third reading next time,” and Council member Hancock seconded. The presiding officer called for the ayes; no opposition was recorded during the meeting and the council confirmed the item will return for a third reading in two weeks. City staff told the council the item will not be taken up next week because of an overlapping budget meeting on capital improvements.

The ordinance would alter the recorded right-of-way in the plat of North Defiance and could affect property boundaries and future use of the vacated area. The planning commission recommendation and the petitioner’s request were the primary details provided during the second-reading caption. No formal vote to adopt or deny the ordinance occurred at the Oct. 14 meeting; the council only approved postponing further consideration to a future meeting.