Council reviews resident petition to abandon a Kiwi Circle segment to curb cut-through traffic

The council discussed a citizen request to consider abandoning a short segment of Kiwi Circle in Rushing Park to reduce persistent cut-through traffic. Staff explained the abandonment process under North Carolina law (citing N.C. Gen. Stat. 168-299): the town would adopt a resolution to initiate abandonment, hold a public hearing with mailed notice, and must find that closing the street is not contrary to the public interest and would not deprive affected property owners of reasonable ingress or egress.

Staff reported that a petition canvass showed roughly 24 of 31 affected property owners signed in favor (about 70%) and that two driveways would remain connected to the portion staff recommended keeping open; staff said those two owners would be consulted about taking over their driveway maintenance if abandonment proceeds. The town’s public-works staff said demolition of the short 11-foot-wide asphalt segment would be manageable and that public works could perform most of the low-cost work; staff agreed to prepare a demolition and signage/guard estimate for the council. Council members asked about fire and safety impacts and whether a single access would meet fire code; staff said existing speed humps and the subdivision size (about 50 lots) do not trigger additional emergency-access requirements and that staff would coordinate with the fire marshal.

What’s next: staff will prepare a cost estimate for demolition and traffic-control measures, continue outreach to the two homeowners whose driveways currently connect to the at-risk segment, and bring back the abandonment resolution and findings for a formal public hearing.