Requested Street Vacation Delayed

A request by residents living near 19th and Myrtle to take over a deeded street right of way has been postponed until later this year.

Richard Biggs submitted a petition from the neighbors to the city seeking to have the city relinquish ownership for the undeveloped portion of East 18th Avenue between Florida and Myrtle.

Adjacent property owners would be allowed to buy the right of way next to their land for half its value.

Biggs owns property north and south of 18th Avenue. Vacating the street would unify his parcels.

The right of way cuts through a hilly forested area.

City public works officials discovered that two undeveloped lots along the right of way would be landlocked if the city relinquished its ownership of the street. The owner of those lots was opposed to the street vacation.

As a result, the proposed street vacation has been reduced in length from a full block to the eastern two-thirds of the block.

The proponents are being asked to dedicate land for a turnaround in the event the remaining public right of way is ever developed.

Currently, homeowners use private driveways for access to their properties. The nearest developed streets are 17th, 19th and Funk avenues.

City officials said the street vacation probably will go back to the City Council for a vote in September.