Planning Commission recommends vacating alley that runs through former East Middle School with condition to protect sewer line

The Grand Junction Planning Commission on July 8 recommended City Council approve vacating a 20-foot alley that runs through the former East Middle School at 830 Gunnison Avenue, subject to a condition that the Mesa County Valley School District 51 grant a sanitary sewer easement to the city for a line that traverses the site.

Senior planner Thomas Lloyd told the commission the alley, dedicated in 1905 as part of Block 41, runs through the middle of the school building and is now a "paper" right-of-way encroached by the structure. Staff found the alley has limited operational value and recommended the vacation with conditions to protect the publicly maintained sanitary sewer connection that serves the school.

Lloyd said, "vacating this alley will give District 51 ownership of the alley and support further long-term facility planning for them," but the staff report added the vacation should not be effective until the district grants a sanitary sewer easement satisfactory to city staff. The second condition is that the ordinance shall be void if the easement requirement is not met within one year of City Council approval.

Mark Austin, representing the district, confirmed the district would work with staff on required easement documentation. There were no public commenters on the request. A motion to forward a recommendation of approval to City Council with staff-recommended conditions (city file VAC-2024-245) passed 7–0.

The staff report noted the vacated area is approximately 7,772 square feet and that, aside from the sanitary sewer connection, no other utilities exist within the alley. The easement condition is intended to preserve access, maintenance responsibility and public sewer operations even after the alley is vacated and ownership transfers to the school district.