Planning Commission votes not to recommend closing alley

The alley in question runs from Cleveland Avenue to the south and is marked with red lines in this overhead photo.

The Ponca City Planning Commission on Tuesday night rejected a request to recommend closing an alley south of the 200 block of West Cleveland.

Ron Nuckols, owner of property west of the alley to Pine Street, petitioned for the alley’s closing. He did not appear at the meeting.

David G. Helton of Bradenton, Fla., owns the property adjacent to the alley to the east. He was represented by Neal Lawrence, who told the commissioners the owner did not want to lose access to the west side of his buildings along the alley.

Development Services Director Chris Henderson said the two parties at odds in the request have not spoken about other methods of resolving the issue.

Nuckols had said he was seeking to have the alley closed so his employees could park there. Parking is not allowed in a legally platted alley.

The alley in question is not maintained, and the only utility easement is for electric lines, Henderson said.