LRA approves Duff Avenue lot sale with condition to acquire abandoned alley

The Clarksburg Land Reuse Agency approved disposition of a Duff Avenue parcel (Parcel 175) to an adjoining owner with stated conditions: the buyer must survey and combine the lot with adjacent parcels, pursue abandonment of the paper street/alley if required, and the board discussed pricing tied to assessed value (members cited an assessed value of approximately $15,000).

Staff told the board the Duff Avenue parcel is zoned R‑2 and that a house once stood on the site; the applicant, identified in staff materials as Shelby and Kayla McCarthy, indicated the lot has been vacant since about 2013 and the city has been mowing it. Members debated whether to place a covenant preventing future subdivision, noting R‑2 allows two-family structures but any subdivision or new build would still require planning and zoning approval.

The chair asked for the resolution to require the alley/right-of-way to be abandoned or transferred to the buyer as part of the transaction so the lot can function as private yard or parking. A member suggested a $5,000 sale price for the lot in line with comparable recent sales; others noted the need for a consistent pricing formula tied to county assessed values instead of ad hoc figures. The motion passed; staff will draft deed language reflecting the alley condition and any covenants agreed by the board.

Board members emphasized that while the LRA aims to improve neighborhood conditions, any restrictions should balance owners’ property rights and the LRA’s responsibility to protect long-term neighborhood value.