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Council approves partial alley closure for Canadian Valley Tech after neighbors raise access concerns
Summary
The council approved an ordinance to close a portion of an alley to allow Canadian Valley Technology Center to build about 138 parking spots; neighboring residents urged design changes to preserve rear access and staff said utility easements (PSO) cannot be closed.
The Chickasha City Council approved an ordinance to close a portion of a north–south alley adjacent to Canadian Valley Technology Center so the school can construct a parking lot to serve students.
Brent Casey, representing Canadian Valley, told the council the proposal would create roughly 138 parking spaces and enable one controlled entrance and egress on Michigan and a side road. He said the school plans gates on the street side and intends to secure the lot at night and on weekends. “We have a design of a 138 parking spots for our high school students to park,” Casey said.
Neighbors expressed concern that a full alley vacation would cut necessary rear access for several homes and cause difficulties for large equipment and deliveries. One resident said the alley is used to access the back of her long lot and asked that the design preserve that access. Staff and the applicant said the proposed action would close only a portion of the alley that crosses the applicant’s property and would not close the entire alley to Frisco; the utility easement with power lines would remain open because PSO will not allow it to be vacated.
Staff explained the closure process: the planning commission and city council may approve closing a section of the alley, but a district court vacation is required for final conveyance after utility and VOTEC (likely VOTEC = utility/property review) checks are satisfied. The planning commission recommended approval; staff said there were no emails or phone calls in opposition prior to the hearing.
Council members asked detailed questions about setbacks, easement widths, how construction traffic and drop-off access would be handled during construction, and whether a gate or easement could permit occasional access for adjacent property owners. The applicant said designs can preserve backside access and that gates would be used to secure the lot. Staff said any parking lot would have to meet standard development-code requirements.
Outcome: Council approved ordinance 2408 to close the specified portion of the alley adjacent to Canadian Valley Technology Center; roll-call voting registered both yes and no votes from members who raised adjacency concerns.
