Public Meeting: Owens Lane Closure Considered

    Months of on and off again discussions about closing a portion of Owens Lane in Umatilla will take the next step toward potential action. The City of Umatilla has announced a public meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 15, to solicit community input on the proposal.
    The city has considered closing a section of Owens Lane that runs from Bayless Street north to Lake Street. The section includes a border with Umatilla Elementary School and Crescent Lake. In previous discussions, reasons for the potential closure include a reduction in maintenance of the clay road, traffic complaints from residents in the area, and the fact that the road’s right-of-way is rather small and makes any potential improvement to the section difficult.
    A section of the road to the south of Bayless that serves homes in the area would remain open.
    The road serves as a commonly used way to reach the northwest corner of town, and also for people to get to UES. Its closure would likely redirect traffic through area neighborhoods, a factor that is likely to be part of the workshop's discussion.
    The meeting is open to the public, and will be held inside the chambers of the Umatilla City Council in advance of its 6 p.m. meeting. City Hall is located at 1 South Central Avenue in Umatilla.