A proposed resolution to vacate a portion of right-of-way along Wildwood Drive drew mixed reactions from the Kenai City Council during a lengthy discussion Wednesday night.
Resolution No. 2025-32, introduced by city administration on behalf of Council Member Alex Douthit, sought to declare a 60-foot by 156-foot section of unnamed roadway unnecessary for public use and approve its vacation.
The right-of-way, which runs adjacent to lots Douthit owns, was the subject of significant debate over public interest, property development, and ongoing state negotiations.
Some council members expressed caution, citing unresolved disputes over the ownership and future of Wildwood Drive, which is partly controlled by the Kenai Native Association (KNA). They even warned that vacating the right-of-way now could hinder the city’s efforts to secure state cooperation and funding to improve the road.
Council Member Douthit said he’s been working on this for years and called it a “horrible drainage mess.”
“The reason this is come to my attention is that in this last flooding we had, and why it has come to my fruition for the need for this property was one, for me to develop the property off of Wildwood Dr. that is abutting those, I would have to expand an extra 60 feet of driveway, 60 feet of utilities and all of those things are cost a lot of extra money just to access the property if I wanted to develop some of these. Also, this road right away now is where all of Wildwood drains on my property, and it causes a huge lake.” Said Douthit.
He says that when Wildwood Drive and the highway drain, over 2 1/2 feet of standing water results in the corner where the right-of-way is. He’s also tried adding drainage ditches, among other solutions.
“The purpose of vacating this roadway was for me to expand that clear off the three or four feet of overburden that’s on it, which basically acts as a dam to allow more runoff to my area, so I don’t have those flooding issues and try to help prevent that flooding issue. That’s what this was about. I’m not planning on putting a structure up there right this second, but it was to expand and help with water drainage and some of the issues that are becoming about that.” Douthit said.
He mentioned that the Borough had no problems with the right-of-way and that the Planning and Zoning Commission was also okay with it. “It’s already been done, and 210 feet of it has been vacated, ” said Douthit.
Mayor Brian Gabriel and several council members echoed concerns, with Gabriel stating that vacating the land “muddies the waters” amid ongoing negotiations.
“My problem is one, I would say that this concern is more than a problem. It’s the timing of this as we try to work through those negotiations, and at the same time saying okay we’ve got this adjacent right away that we’re vacating because we’re saying it’s not needed for a public purpose.” Said Mayor Gabriel.
Others, like Council Member Phil Daniel, supported the vacation, arguing it would set a consistent precedent and encourage development.
The council ultimately voted against the resolution, with the majority agreeing the request was premature given the unresolved Wildwood Drive dispute and its importance to regional infrastructure plans.