Trending
SALEM-- The city Planning Commission voted Monday in favor of the proposed vacation of an unnamed alley behind the Dunkin' Donuts properties on West State Street.
The petition requested the vacation of a 15-foot alley which stretches 222.52 feet from Dodge Drive to the end of the alley, touching five parcels all owned by SLW Development to the north and south.
According to city Planning & Zoning Officer Chip Hank, the alley vacation now goes to the Rules and Ordinances Committee of city council and then city council if the committee recommends approval.
The area covered by the alley represents .76 acres of land.
Stew White of SLW Development spoke during the Zoom meeting on behalf of the vacation, noting that the company owns all the adjoining property. The alley runs behind the company office building, which serves as home base, the existing Dunkin' Donuts, which will be transformed into a Dairy Queen Grill & Chill restaurant, and the new Dunkin' Donuts under construction.
The company also owns the parcels to the south of the alley, including the one behind the office building which houses the maintenance building.
Both Mayor John Berlin, who is a member of the Planning Commission due to his position, and commission member Barb Loudon were asking how the vacated alley will be divided up amongst the parcels, whether a little bit will go to each parcel or whether he'll choose to have that land go to the northern parcels or the southern parcels.
Berlin said the Columbiana County Auditor's office will need to know how the land is going to be split up. Since the alley property is used for the turnarounds or drive-thrus for the properties, Berlin suggested the alley land go to the northern parcels in case any of the parcels are sold in the future.
White said once the alley is vacated, the parcels will be replatted. He was just simply asking for the alley to be vacated.
Berlin said he had no problem with the vacation, he just said it's a question of how the property will be split for the auditor.
During the meeting, White called surveyor Keith Chamberlin, who confirmed a replat of the lots will be done once the alley is vacated to show the allocation of the .76 acres.