Planning board recommends vacating Wooster alleyways but preserves short section of Center Street to protect access
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Summary
After public testimony that vacating alleys could landlock an adjacent property, the planning board recommended vacation of platted alleyways in the Wooster area but excluded the final 100‑foot portion of Center Street to preserve potential access for the neighbor.
The Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission voted to recommend vacating multiple platted alleys and rights‑of‑way in the unincorporated Wooster area but directed the petitioners to exclude a short segment of Center Street to avoid depriving neighboring properties of access.
Petitioners (represented by Chris McCrae of John Temple & Associates) initially sought to vacate several alleys and a south right‑of‑way. McCrae said the petitioner could exclude the southeast corner portion if needed. "I did some research on that... I never closed a private drive without the consent of the owner," he said when describing historic railroad practice, arguing railroads typically do not unilaterally strip private access.
Opposition centered on access for William Hutchinson, whose counsel Steve Schneider told the board Hutchinson’s only reliable access comes via platted public ways shown on 1850s plats and a gravel drive along the railroad that lacks a formal easement. Schneider warned that vacating the southern right‑of‑way could landlock Hutchinson’s parcels and that wetlands could prevent building alternate roads. "If you were to vacate the alley and it turns out a road couldn't be placed in the main road, then we'd be out our access," Schneider said.
Petitioner Kim Heinel confirmed the owner would drop the southern Center Street portion from the petition. Staff and members emphasized the board’s legal duty under the vacation statute to ensure no property is deprived of access; preserving that portion addressed the primary objection. After discussion an unidentified member moved to approve the vacation request with the clarified scope (excluding Center Street); the motion carried and staff will forward a favorable recommendation to the county commissioners for the Feb. 24 meeting.
Next steps: the county commissioners will consider the vacation recommendation on Feb. 24 at 9:00 a.m. in the same room, and staff will send notice to the petitioner and affected parties.
