(Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents the Garofono family who made this request.)
By Caroline Yu | Your Valley
Amid the ongoing crusade of some concerned residents seeking the addition of a new sidewalk, the City of Scottsdale has made further efforts to reach an understanding and agreement on the 68th Street abandonment case.
Previously reported in the Independent, several Scottsdale residents made a plea for a new sidewalk to the mayor and council members regarding an issue in their neighborhood of a homeowner requesting the city to abandon a specific plot of land. As explained, if the city were to abandon this land, it would be more difficult to install a sidewalk that would greatly improve safety for pedestrians along that stretch of 68th Street.
At the May 17 city council meeting, Mayor David Ortega and his fellow council members engaged in a discussion on the issue following a presentation given by Jeff Barnes, a staff member with the city’s planning department who has been working with stakeholders to come to an agreement.
According to a city staff report authored by Barnes, “this request is to abandon a 10-foot-wide strip of right-of-way, for a distance of plus or minus 301 feet, along the north 68th Street frontage of the property located at 6750 east Exeter Boulevard.”
“Omar Abdallah, attorney at Rose Law Group representing the Garofonos, presented the application, giving reason for why this case was important to his clients and how the addition of a sidewalk would still be possible.
“To give you some historical context, the home was built in 1951. In 1992, the Garofonos dedicated 15 feet of their property to the city of Scottsdale to provide for today’s existing 45 feet right of way,” Abdallah said.
Along their side of the street, there is an allotted 45 feet of right of way available on their half of the street. Since their dedication in 1992, the city has not expanded the street as was originally outlined.
Because of this, they believe the current 45 feet is no longer necessary and that 10 of the original 15 feet given to the city should be returned to the property owners. As Abdallah explained, there will be no negative impact and that an abandonment request like this is quite standard.
“Some points that I think are worth mentioning, in summary, is that the wall fence and oleanders were installed while the right of way area was private property,” he said. “The event permit will not impact access vehicle traffic, bicycle traffic or pedestrian traffic.””
