The Philomath City Council voted 4-1 during its June 8 meeting to pass an ordinance vacating a narrow unimproved alley near North Eighth Street — but because the vote was not unanimous, it will return to the council’s next meeting for a second and final roll-call vote.
Mayor Christopher McMorran voted no — as he did in April when the council originally directed staff to draft the ordinance. As such, City Manager Chris Workman said the measure will need to come back at the next meeting for another vote. The vote passed 4-1 with two absent.
The alley vacation request was submitted by Scott Ramsey, who owns both lots on either side of the 13.67-foot-wide unimproved alley located just north of the railroad tracks between North Eighth and North Ninth streets. Ramsey has said he intends to build a home on the currently vacant lot to the west, and vacating the alley would provide enough land to meet residential setback requirements.
The council first took up the request in April, voting 6-1 to direct staff to prepare the ordinance. In voting no, McMorran cited a general reluctance to relinquish public property and pointed to a situation involving a North 20th Street right-of-way vacation that complicated future infrastructure planning.
City staff had previously determined that no sewer, water or storm lines are located within the alley and identified no conflicts that would prohibit the vacation. Workman has also noted that the railroad to the south significantly limits any realistic future need for the corridor.
Once the ordinance receives final approval, it takes effect 30 days later, at which point the city recorder is directed to file a certified copy with the Benton County clerk, county assessor and county surveyor.