Goldsboro council sets Feb. 17 public hearing on permanent right-of-way closure for Kyler West Road parcel

The Goldsboro City Council adopted a resolution to set a public hearing on Feb. 17 to consider a permanent closure of a platted public right of way along Kyler West Road.

Planning staff described the item as a request to close a paper right of way — a platted public easement that has not been improved — adjacent to a tract about 297.96 feet by 60 feet on the south side of Kyler West Road. The petitioner listed in the staff comments included Robert Strickland, Horace Best and Judas Pope.

Staff said the closure request stems from a conditional rezoning approved earlier: the conditional zoning included a site plan showing the right-of-way segment converted to a private driveway, and closing the right of way was included as a condition of that rezoning approval. “This one is just so everyone’s clear is a right away closing of a platted right of way on a piece of paper. So it doesn't exist in reality, but because it is a public right of way, we have to follow North Carolina General Statutes to properly and legally close the public right of way,” a planning staff member said.

Council members were asked to adopt a resolution scheduling the public hearing; a council member moved, another seconded, and the presiding official said the motion passed. The presiding official said the public hearing will be held on Feb. 17, the council’s second meeting in February. The council did not decide on the right-of-way closure itself at this meeting; the vote scheduled the public hearing only.

Staff told the council that, after the hearing, any decision to abandon the right of way would follow procedures required by state law and the city’s processes for right-of-way abandonment.