Staff recommends pausing 608 E. 3rd alley closure after neighboring opposition; applicant agrees to full-alley approach

Matt Lickdee of Public Works briefed the committee on an application to close the remaining portion of an alley at 608 East 3rd Street. He said the city's standard practice is to avoid partial alley closures because partial closures can create maintenance and turnaround problems; the applicant agreed to extend the closure to the entire alley.

"We asked the applicant to go ahead and extend the closure for the entire alley," Lickdee said, adding that staff had letters of support for the full section but learned that an adjacent property owner, identified in the presentation as Mr. McDaniels, opposed the closure. Lickdee said the item will likely receive public comment at the evening meeting and that staff expects the applicant and Mr. McDaniels to try to negotiate a solution before the ordinance reading returns to committee.

Staff said the city would retain an easement over the alley if the closure proceeds. No vote or final action occurred in the committee briefing; the item will go to a public meeting later the same day.