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LOCK HAVEN -- Lock Haven City Council approved, on first reading, the potential vacancy of a portion of Railroad Street near the former Walkers Hardware Store.
The roadway, which borders the property and the railroad tracks, sits between Bellefonte Avenue and Second Street and is about 270 feet long.
The proposal was submitted by the new owners of the former hardware store, North Star Land LLC -- the name listed on Clinton County's GIS mapping service -- and Tom McMaster. McMaster and Attorney Marc Drier attended Monday night's council meeting to talk further about the potential vacancy.
Prior to hearing from Drier, City Manager Gregory Wilson spoke about what the city knows about the stretch of roadway.
Wilson told council if it chose to vacate the portion of roadway, it would have no effect on police, fire or other emergency services and it could easily be removed from the public works department's plowing routes.
He further noted the roadway doesn't qualify for Act 13 liquid fuels funds.
Drier gave a rundown of what the company would like to do with the property if the vacancy is granted.
"Its use would be for parking only. It would not be built over... we know there's stormwater infrastructure there," Drier said.
Drier noted the removal of this public road may have a benefit of safety.
"It's actually a dangerous intersection," he said of where the roadway intersects with Bellefonte Avenue.
Drier further noted the other end of the street leads to student housing and parking.
Council approved the proposed vacancy in a 6-1 vote. Councilmember Jeff Brinker, who attended the meeting virtually, was the lone "no" vote. He told other members of council he had questions about the proposal, but didn't want to risk miscommunication while he was not there in person.
Councilmember Richard Morris requested the proposed ordinance for the vacancy be adjusted to specifically state the vacant property would be shifted to North Star to ensure no confusion -- due to the property bordering the railroad's right-of-way.
Wilson told council the ordinance would be published weekly in The Express until a public meeting takes place on Aug. 10.
The meeting will give the public the opportunity to offer comments for or against the proposed vacancy before council votes whether to adopt the ordinance or not, he said.