The Salt Lake City Planning Commission recommended City Council approve an alley vacation for a portion of an alley near 519 East Browning Avenue after staff presented historical aerials and on‑site photos showing the alley has been effectively blocked by a garage and fence for decades.

Staff explained the requested vacation affects a roughly 16‑foot by 188‑foot segment adjacent to five properties and concluded the portion is a "paper alley" — legally platted but never passable. "This portion of the alleyway being requested to be vacated is considered therefore a paper alley," staff said, noting an accessory structure visible in aerials dating back to at least 1958.

The applicants discovered the alley’s status only after purchasing 519 E. Browning and attempting to replace a fence; their title report indicated the alley was platted along the property edge. If City Council approves the vacation, the city would convey half the vacated width to the five abutting property owners within the Watkins Addition subdivision.

Commissioners debated the tradeoff between removing vestigial public rights and preserving public access. Some commissioners said the long‑standing physical condition made vacating reasonable, while others expressed concern about permanently losing public space and the precedent of allowing private encroachment on platted rights‑of‑way.

After deliberation, the commission voted 4–2 to forward a positive recommendation to City Council. Staff emphasized that property owners who would receive the vacated half‑width would be required to follow conveyance procedures if council approves the vacation.

The commission’s recommendation will be considered by City Council, which has final authority to vacate public rights‑of‑way and to determine terms of conveyance.