Public works committee holds petition to vacate portion of Alabama Street until applicant can appear

The Butte City Public Works Committee on July 22 voted to hold communication 2026-368 — a petition to close and vacate portions of a public right-of-way on Alabama Street — until the applicant can appear before the committee.

Commissioner Russell O'Leary moved to hold the item, saying, "I'll make a motion that we hold communication 2026-368 until the applicant has an opportunity to appear in front of this committee." The motion was put to a voice vote and the chair announced, "Ayes have it."

Will O'Connor, identified in the record as the land records coordinator, told the committee the petition was filed with the BSB planning department under ordinance number 362 and BSB municipal code section 12.06.010 and stressed the current meeting was a procedural step. "This is just the first step in the process of going to the public works committee," O'Connor said, describing subsequent phases that include a public hearing and a resolution for a later commission vote.

O'Connor also said at least 50% of adjacent property owners signed the petition to bring it forward. He reported the office had received one written public comment opposing the street vacation, raising concerns such as whether development would block neighbors' views.

The committee's action pauses formal consideration until the applicant — identified in the staff briefing as Eric Berg — can appear and provide further details. O'Connor told the group Berg lives in Boise and indicated August 1 or the first week of August would be the earliest he could attend. The next formal step is the public hearing, followed by a staff-prepared resolution for the commission to vote on.