Council approves right‑of‑way parking license at 305 West Avenue C after neighbors raise safety concerns

The Midlothian City Council approved April 14 a right‑of‑way use license allowing eight on‑street parking spaces at 305 West Avenue C after the council pulled the item from the consent agenda for public comment and staff discussion.

Multiple neighbors and the applicant spoke during the public comment period. Christina Chambers, who lives in the city and identified herself as the applicant’s opponent, said allowing the easement to be paved would set an undesirable precedent and create safety and hold‑harmless questions for adjacent homeowners; she asked for a traffic study and a clear plan for how neighbor liabilities would be addressed. Gary Neath, who said he lives at 316 West Avenue C, asked that the item be removed from consent for public discussion and highlighted concerns about an 18‑foot street width versus zoning guidance that assumes 24 feet for two‑way parking; he requested more public notification and clarity on future use.

Applicant Andrea Walton, who identified herself as the owner/applicant for 305 West Avenue C and said the property had been in the Walton family for decades, said the proposed lot would be used for an administrative/professional office and estimated modest daily parking demand (three to five cars) and emphasized an aim to preserve the historic facade.

Staff explained that the parcel is zoned Community Retail and that some current on‑street parking exists elsewhere in Old Town under similar encroachment agreements. Staff told council that the city has an 80‑foot right‑of‑way at that location and that paving or installing material in the right‑of‑way requires a formal right‑of‑way agreement; without the agreement, improvements would need to be removed. Council members asked whether the applicant could open a business without the parking and whether an ordinance prohibited parking on front lawns; staff said that businesses could operate using existing driveways and that the code does not expressly prohibit parking on the front yard in every instance. After questions and review, council approved the right‑of‑way license and the item passed 6–0.

Council directed staff to ensure the license language addresses drainage, landscaping, and any hold‑harmless provisions affecting neighbors, and to keep the council informed of any future enforcement or code changes that affect Old Town right‑of‑way uses.