Monroeville planning commission approves subdivision to dedicate Ashbury Court right-of-way

Monroeville — The Monroeville Planning Commission on Nov. 19 voted to approve a subdivision application that would dedicate a 33-foot public right-of-way on Ashbury Court and forward the proposal to the Town Council for consideration next month.

Planning staff introduced agenda item 25-5-sub, saying applicants seek preliminary and final subdivision approval under the Monroeville subdivision and land development ordinance No. 2525 to subdivide multiple parcels and dedicate the right-of-way to the municipality. Staff noted the parcels lie in R-3 (multifamily) and M-1 (light industrial) zoning districts and read the addresses and tax parcel numbers on the application.

“My name is Scott Pilsen. I’m the owner of Pilsen Survey,” the applicant’s surveyor said, and described the history of Ashbury Court. Pilsen told the commission the street was treated as a municipal road for many years, with a 25-foot access and utility easement, and that municipal maintenance — including occasional pothole repairs — stopped roughly in 2023. “They just want to have the municipality take ownership of this because ... they all moved in, bought their homes here, assumed that this was a public road,” Pilsen said.

Pilsen said the applicants submitted engineering plans that demonstrate a hammerhead cul-de-sac design is feasible at the end of Ashbury Court and that the plan uses the largest of several previously drawn hammerhead designs to facilitate snow removal and service access. He also said the proposed subdivision would dedicate the municipality’s required 33-foot right-of-way but would not widen the existing paved surface; the additional width would remain as grassed front yard area.

Planning staff and the surveyor discussed constraints including utility boxes located near the pavement edge and an electric gate at Lot 3; Pilsen said moving those features would be costly and the submitted design sought to avoid relocation. Commissioners also asked whether titles or deeds showed public ownership; Pilsen said homeowners had not reviewed deed language and were basing their request on long experience of municipal maintenance.

With no further questions, a motion to approve the subdivision application was made, seconded and carried. The commission voted to forward the application to the Town Council, which meets on the first and second Tuesdays; staff advised the applicants to attend both the presentation and voting meetings in case the council takes up the matter at either session.

The planning commission also approved the minutes of its Oct. 15, 2025 meeting earlier in the session. The commission adjourned following the subdivision discussion. The Town Council will take up the subdivision application at a future meeting; the commission provided no timetable beyond advising applicants to attend the next council meetings.