Rome commission approves ordinance to vacate portions of several platted streets as a plat correction

The Rome City Commission on July 13 approved a second-reading ordinance to abandon and vacate portions of several platted streets that, officials said, exist on the recorded plat but not on the ground or the GIS map.

Commissioner Fisher read the ordinance, which the city described as a correction to the plat so the GIS mapping and recorded property description align with physical conditions. The text covers portions of East 19th Street, East 20th Street, Ellis Street, Farley Street and a tract labeled as an alley running between 6th Avenue and East 20th Street.

During discussion, a commissioner said nearby residents have raised noise complaints and asked that the city ask the property owner to increase or improve a buffer to reduce sound. City staff and other commissioners said code enforcement is responsible for enforcing noise limits and that staff would follow up to confirm compliance; they recommended handling buffer changes through code enforcement conversations rather than by modifying the plat ordinance.

The clerk called the roll and the commission approved the ordinance on second reading. The mayor noted the measure passed and the commission moved on to other business.

What happens next: The ordinance amends the recorded plat and city mapping to remove or reclassify the listed street portions. City code enforcement will follow up on resident noise concerns raised during the discussion.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance approved on second reading at the July 13 meeting (vote recorded by the clerk during the meeting).