title
STREET VACATION (B)
Ordinance No. 0-05-39, Petition 196SVA-04PB
An ordinance of the City of Gainesville, Florida, to vacate, abandon and close a 15-foot alley running west of Southeast 11th Street (a/k/a Williston/Waldo Road) to the abandoned rail line (bicycle rail trail) in Block 28, New Gainesville, as recorded in Plat Book A, page 65, Public Records of Alachua County, Florida; reserving a utility easement; providing a severability clause; providing a repealing clause; and providing an immediate effective date.
recommendation
The City Commission adopt the proposed ordinance.
explanation
STAFF REPORT
The purpose of this request is to vacate a 15-foot wide right-of-way west of S.E. 11th Street (also known as Williston Road and/or Waldo Road) to allow for the future expansion of the existing Education Child Care Center located north of the right-of-way. South of the right-of-way is vacant, unclassified land. The right-of-way runs for approximately 115 feet west into the bicycle rail trail. The owner of the child care center would like to purchase the unclassified land for the purpose of expansion after the right-of-way is vacated. The right-of-way is a "paper street," that consists of several trees and other vegetation. It provides no public service and would best be used as taxable land.
The Plan Board heard the petition and recommended that it be approved with the condition to retain an easement for utilities.
Public notice was published in the Gainesville Sun on February 1, 2005. Letters were mailed to surrounding property owners on February 2, 2005. The Plan Board held a public hearing February 17, 2005. The City Commission heard and approved this petition March 14, 2005.
CITY ATTORNEY MEMORANDUM
The City Commission, at its meeting of March 14, 2005, authorized the City Attorney to draft the proposed ordinance for street vacation.