Problems between neighbors drove two couples to the Wayne County Advisory Plan Commission looking for help June 26.
Daryll and Lilah Webb of Williamsburg request that the county vacate an alley between their North Centerville Road home and their neighbors to the north. Daryll Webb said the undeveloped alley provides access to his garage, but neighbors parking in the alley within inches of his house block that access.
Webb said he’s called Wayne County Sheriff’s deputies three times, but they’ve said there’s nothing they can do to stop the parking. If the county vacates the 10-foot-wide alley, he and the neighbors would each add five feet to their properties. Webb knows that might not stop the neighbors from parking between the homes, but hopes it would provide deputies legal teeth to ensure the parking is off Webb’s property, at least the five feet from his home.
Gordon Moore, the county surveyor and a plan commission member, said he would not be in favor of vacating the land until the Webbs take their problem before Wayne County’s commissioners. The Webbs don’t necessarily want the extra land; they’re just searching for a solution to the parking issue. Commissioners have additional authorities they might exercise to help the Webbs, Moore said.
Other plan commission members agreed, and the Webbs’ request was tabled. If commissioners cannot solve their problem, the request to vacate could again be considered during plan commission’s July meeting.
In a separate matter, Russell and Helen Pierson of Jacksonburg request that the county vacate an undeveloped alley to their north and an undeveloped street extension to their south.
The Piersons already thought the alley was vacated and have installed a split-rail fence through the middle of the alley. On the south side, their neighbor has put gravel on more than half of the road’s 66-foot width and has stopped service vehicles from using it, Russell Pierson said. The Piersons would like to add the other 33 feet to their property and continue permitting service access.
The plan commission voted 6-0 to recommend approval of the alley and street vacation requests to commissioners, who make the final decision. The plan commission also unanimously recommended commissioners approve a request from Shannon Merkamp of Williamsburg that the county vacate two alleys around her Main Street home.
Merkamp said she needs the extra land to satisfy setback requirements for a new septic system the Wayne County Health Department is requiring her to install.
A version of this article appeared in the July 2 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.