At its Monday night meeting, the Safety Harbor City Commission voted 4-1, with Commissioner Carlos Diaz opposed, on Monday night to give final approval to vacate a small portion of city right of way behind 600 Pine St.
The city maintains a small strip of right of way from Spruce Street to Cedar Street and directly behind Pine Street homes that is not used by the city nor utilities. The owner of 600 Pine St. had petitioned the city to vacate the portion of that right of way directly behind her house so she could reconstruct a shed that previously partially stood on the right of way before it was demolished to satisfy a Code Enforcement complaint from a neighbor.
At the first hearing for the vacation, City Manager Matthew Spoor said the city did not have a problem vacating the right of way, but preferred to vacate the entire right of way to avoid having multiple hearings for other Pine Street residents who may also want their portion vacating. Commission declined to do that, but instructed city staff to have conversations with all affected residents to see how many would be interested in doing so.
Monday night, Spoor told Commission a few residents have since said they would be in favor of vacations.
Diaz, who also voted nay at the first hearing, said he thought the issue could be handled with an agreement rather than a vacation.