Council moves to prepare ordinance to vacate 8th Street alley spur after public hearing

The Columbus City Council opened a public hearing on April 13 to consider vacating the south spur of the 8th Street alley. City staff explained the alley vacation process follows state code and that the city’s review found no existing infrastructure conflicts related to utilities or access.

“Once we’re through with the hearing, the council can give direction to prepare an ordinance,” staff said, describing the statutory process and noting that, if approved later, the vacation becomes effective 30 days after adoption and the adjacent property owners would split the vacated right‑of‑way per state procedure.

Councilors asked whether the spur serves as any private driveway, whether emergency access would be affected, and whether future utility needs might require retaining public control. Staff said the spur dead‑ended at the railroad and that access for any new home would likely be private driveway from 8th Street or College, and that the east‑west alley would remain public.

Mayor (speaker 1) expressed caution about vacating public assets and said he personally did not support the action. "I personally do not support this," he said, citing concern that giving away rights of way may limit future infrastructure options. Staff and other councilors replied that they had reviewed the site with public works and the engineer and did not identify foreseeable public need for the spur.

Council moved to direct staff to prepare an ordinance vacating the subject alleyway. The motion was moved, seconded, closed for public comment (no speakers), and adopted by a 6–1 vote.

What happens next: staff will draft the vacating ordinance and return it for formal adoption at a future meeting; if adopted, the city recorder will submit the recorded vacation to the county and adjacent property owners will receive the allotment per state law.