Street Abandonment

The street abandonment process enables an applicant to request the City Council to relinquish the public’s interest in a platted or dedicated street or alley right-of-way. Following approval, the area of the abandoned right-of-way is returned to abutting property owners as real property.

Prerequisites

Approvals or Permits Issued

  • Approval of a street abandonment is by resolution adopted by the City Council

Process

  1. The applicant submits an application, supplemental documents and fee.
  2. Applications are assigned a Case Manager to act as the point of contact and assist with managing it through the process.
  3. Staff reviews the application and notifies the applicant of any deficiencies. Once deemed complete, a street abandonment application is placed in review.
  4. The application is forwarded to the City’s Technical Review Committee to review the public interest in the street right-of-way and to identify any conflicts with existing City utilities, including the need to retain easements for existing utilities.
  5. Also, the application is forwarded to other utility providers serving the High Point area (e.g. North State Communications, Piedmont Natural Gas, Duke Energy and Spectrum) to identify any conflicts with existing utilities and the need to retain easements for existing utilities.
  6. When the Technical Review Committee and the other utility providers complete their reviews, then the application is scheduled for the next available regular meeting of the Planning & Zoning Commission. To reduce the review time, the applicant may obtain a written response on the application from each of the other utility providers prior to submitting the application.
  7. City Council adopts a Resolution of Intent to consider the street abandonment request.
  8. Public notice of the application is provided by certified mailed notice, published notice and posted signs prior to the Planning and Zoning Commission public hearing and the City Council public hearing.
  9. A staff report is prepared and provided to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
  10. At the Planning and Zoning Commission public hearing, the Commission will hear from staff, the applicant and other members of the public who wish to speak on the matter.
  11. After the public hearing, the Planning and Zoning Commission will make a recommendation to the City Council to approve all or a portion of the requested abandonment, or deny the application.
  12. Following the City Council public hearing, the Council will approve all or a portion of the requested abandonment, or deny the street abandonment. An approval may not be conditioned; however, City Council may retain utility or other easements.

Submittal Requirements

  1. Completed Street Abandonment Application (PDF) submitted to the Planning and Development Department or online through Accela Citizen Access (ACA)
  2. Application fee
  3. Metes and bounds description of the right-of-way to be abandoned
  4. Map showing the extent of the right-of-way to be abandoned
  5. If submitting on ACA, attach a completed Board Action Application Signature Form (PDF).

Additional Information

  • In order for the City Council to approve a street abandonment request, it must find that:
    1. It is in the public interest; and
    2. No landowner in the vicinity of the abandoned street or alley will be deprived of reasonable ingress or egress to his/her property

Expected Processing Time

  • Within 2 business days of receipt of an application the Planning & Development Department will determine whether an application is complete or incomplete.
  • If the application is incomplete, then the applicant will be notified within those 2 business days with a written list of application deficiencies.
  • If the application is complete, then it shall be considered submitted. 
  • Approximately 50 business days from submittal to the City Council public hearing and potential decision.
  • Processing time can increase due to the time needed for other utility providers to complete their reviews and to resolve any utility issues.

Fees

  • Application fee is due at time of submittal
  • See the Development Fee Schedule (PDF) for specific fees
  • Payment types accepted: Cash, Discover, MasterCard, Visa and Check or Money Order payable to the City of High Point
  • Online (ACA) payment types accepted: Cash, Discover, MasterCard, Visa and E-check