Tampa City Council voted to vacate a narrow street reservation in the Sunset Park neighborhood after an extended public hearing that divided neighbors and the applicants.

Numerous Sunset Park residents said the sliver of land has provided informal park-like access and benefits for generations and urged the council to preserve it. Michael Rich, speaking for neighbors, told the council the applicants had provided thin evidence of safety or ownership claims and urged them not to "hand it over" without a court decision: "If the applicants really believe that they own this property ... let them make that argument in court."

Applicant representatives and title insurers countered that the parcel is privately owned and the city does not intend to use it for a street extension. Tyler Hudson, the applicants' counsel, said the record includes title commitments from multiple national title companies and a surveyor's letter and argued "This is privately owned land." Council members questioned access, stormwater obligations and whether the Port of Tampa had claims on accreted upland. Staff explained that the vacating would be subject to covenants and that a stormwater easement would be retained where appropriate.

After rebuttal and further council questioning, the council approved the vacating ordinance on the motion’s second reading; the roll call recorded several no votes from council members who cited neighborhood concerns. The ordinance preserves required stormwater easements and includes restrictions to prevent structures from being built in the vacated area without subsequent approvals.

Council members said they understood neighbors' emotional objections but noted the legal limits on the city's ability to claim the land if it is privately titled. The decision leaves residents with options to pursue appeals during the statutory period.

The council recorded the vote on the motion after debate and indicated the resolution will be memorialized with standard covenants and enforcement language.