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Council hears caution on alley vacations and right-of-way purchases; EDC funding requested for surveys
Summary
Council discussed vacating underused alleyways to create downtown parking and using EDC funds to pay for surveys, but a council member warned that right-of-way purchases or vacating can be unpredictable and take years, potentially delaying parts of the project.
Council members discussed whether vacating some city alleyways and negotiating rights-of-way with private owners could create space for parking or easier curb alignment. Staff said many alleys are unused but stressed the need to check utilities and ownership before any vacating or sale. One council member warned that "getting rights away is very unpredictable... it could take years," noting that land acquisition timelines can delay work.
Because right-of-way work can be protracted, council asked the Economic Development Corporation to consider earmarking funds to complete boots-on-the-ground surveys and pay for surveyors and rights research. The council concluded that the East Street directional change does not require right-of-way purchases, but that Main and West could, and those later stages may depend on property negotiations.
