The Sheboygan Common Council voted to vacate a 1,034.86-square-foot portion of right-of-way on the south side of North Franklin Street adjacent to parcel 59281111200, approving a resolution brought by Alders Decker and Rust.

The change was adopted after a public hearing in which David Netting, owner of Harbour Lights at 434 Pennsylvania Avenue, told the council he has maintained the parcel for about 10 years and asked the city to relinquish the section to remove the maintenance burden and allow expansion and job opportunities for his business. “It makes more sense… take that piece of property and leave the city without the burden,” Netting said.

Resident Michael Burnett spoke during the hearing and again during public comment, urging clearer public disclosure of who benefits from such vacations and criticizing the process as opaque. “Why make it such a shell game where you can't see what's going on?” Burnett said.

Alder Decker moved to adopt the resolution; the motion was seconded and the council approved it by roll call vote (10 ayes). The vacation was described on the record as part of Lots 15, 16 and 17, Block 313 of the original plat of the City of Sheboygan.

The resolution does not itself effect any land-use changes to adjacent properties; it removes the city's fee simple interest in the specified strip of right-of-way so ownership and maintenance responsibilities can be assigned per the adopted resolution. The council did not discuss any sale price or transfer terms during the hearing.

Next steps: the resolution is memorialized in the council record; any subsequent administrative steps to transfer or record the vacated area will follow standard city procedures.