Kenai family asks borough to vacate part of Windchime Street in Salamatof

Three members of a Kenai family are asking the Kenai Peninsula Borough Planning Commission to vacate part of Windchime Street in the Salamatof area. The commission holds a public hearing on the request Monday, Nov. 16.

Approval would end the public right-of-way along that stretch. Shawn, Laura and Dominic Denny filed the petition Oct. 9. According to the commission agenda, it covers the 33-foot eastern portion of Windchime Street south of a proposed cul-de-sac and next to Government Lot 47. The right-of-way was granted by a recorded document rather than shown as a platted road.

In the public hearing notice, the Dennys say the strip sits between two family-owned lots, both already developed, and has not been developed and is not being used. They say Sam Street and Empress Avenue offer other access to the area.

At the hearing, borough staff will present a report, the petitioners can make their case and members of the public can testify for up to three minutes each. The hearing starts at 7:30 pm in the Betty J. Glick Assembly Chambers in Soldotna, with remote participation on Zoom. Written comments are due by 1 pm Friday, Nov. 13.

Because the strip lies outside city limits, a vacation needs the consent of the borough assembly. If the commission approves it, the assembly has 30 calendar days to veto the decision; if it does not, consent is considered given. A licensed land surveyor would then need to prepare a subdivision plat.

A denial would be final. The same vacation could not be requested again for one year unless new evidence or circumstances come up.