Waco council approves abandonment of a short Morris Avenue alley with sewer easement retained

The Waco City Council on Nov. 4 approved an ordinance to abandon the remainder of Morris Avenue in a variable-width alley totaling about 0.049 acres, a narrow tract between Prose Street and Daughtry Avenue. Planning staff said the plan commission recommended approval by a 9–0 vote and that the abandonment would allow the adjoining parcels to be replatted into a single developable residential property.

Clint Peters, presenting the staff report at the public hearing, said the tract "is undeveloped and is not currently being used as an alley or street," and that staff found no adverse impacts to the surrounding street and alley system. Peters outlined two staff conditions: before processing deeds, "a 10-foot sanitary sewer easement shall be retained and recorded for the known sanitary sewer line located within the abandonment area," and easements shall be retained and recorded or utilities relocated "as coordinated with the appropriate utility provider" for any other utilities discovered during development.

Applicant representative David Mercer attended the hearing and said he was available to answer council questions; none were asked during the meeting. After the public hearing closed, a council member moved approval, the motion was seconded and the council approved the abandonment by roll call.

The abandonment ordinance includes the staff conditions described above. The council did not discuss additional changes to utilities or public-access provisions during the Nov. 4 meeting.