What if the city owned the underlying fee to the street area?

Although this is rare, occasionally the city actually owns the underlying fee to the street area as well as the easement for public travel. If this is the case, then when the property is vacated the city becomes the fee owner of the vacated area. Ownership can be determined by a title search if there is doubt.

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1. Who may start the street vacation process?
2. Must a public hearing be held before a street may be vacated?
3. Who owns the vacated property?
4. What if the city owned the underlying fee to the street area?
5. May the city charge the abutting property owners a fee for the street vacation?
6. May the city retain an easement for underground utilities that may be in the vacated area?
7. Does the vacation need to be granted by ordinance?
8. May a portion of the street be vacated?
9. May a street that abuts a body of water be vacated?
10. Is there a statute that provides for an automatic vacation of streets if they are not opened for public travel within a certain time period?