Neighbors, property owner and planner differ over vacation of Glenwood Street; council asks staff to craft compromise

A contested petition to vacate a strip of Glenwood Street generated extended public testimony and a request from city staff to develop a compromise solution.

City Planner Greg summarized the planning commission history: after two hearings, the commission voted 6–1 to deny the vacation request and prepared recommendations that were not yet in the council packet. Property owner Howard Manuel (and an associated trust) petitioned to vacate part of the right‑of‑way to allow construction and access to a rear lot; several neighbors, led by Gene Firday, opposed a complete vacation and urged retention of an 8–12 foot pedestrian/access strip down the center.

Neighbors said the strip is a long‑standing pedestrian pathway used by children and residents and asked the city to preserve a clear barrier between any area that might be transferred and the land the city retains. Manuel said he and his co‑owner were willing to accept a narrow walking path or sidewalk and offered to pay to construct driveway access if the vacation were approved. Staff and counsel noted there is an existing city water main through the area and recommended that any vacation retain a utility easement to prevent construction over critical infrastructure; staff also recommended clarifying whether any retained easement is for utilities only or for access as well.

The council did not vote. Instead, members directed staff to work with the two property owners and residents to draft possible access/easement widths and legal language, include the missing planning commission minutes and recommendation in the next packet, and return with a staff recommendation for council consideration.