COLUMBUS, Ind. — A petition to vacate a section of public right-of-way between two residential properties on 5th Street was tabled by the Columbus City Council to allow for further review alongside city planning officials.
Property owners Jeff Baker and John Pickett petitioned to vacate the north-south alley segment running south from 5th Street, situated between their adjacent properties.
The applicants sought to convert the public right-of-way into a shared private driveway to enhance property security and eliminate vehicular cut-through traffic during nearby school drop-off hours.
While municipal utility providers and public safety departments reported no active service conflicts within the specific section, City Engineer Andrew Larrison noted that city engineering guidelines generally recommend preserving established through-alleys that provide neighborhood connectivity.
Council members raised additional considerations regarding downtown housing density goals, stormwater drainage in adjacent parcels, and long-term traffic flow before an initial vote to approve failed 2–5. The Council subsequently voted 5–2 to table the ordinance to coordinate policy guidelines with the Columbus Plan Commission.
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