(a) Authority of council.--By ordinance, council has the authority to:

(1) Open a street or portion of a street previously laid out or simultaneously to lay out and open a street or portion thereof. A street or portion of a street so opened is a public street of the borough.

(2) Vacate or close a street or portion of a street previously opened or laid out provided that no street or portion of a street providing the sole means of access to a tract of land is vacated without the consent of those to whom access would be denied. Vacation of a street terminates the public right in or to the street but does not affect a private right acquired by an owner of abutting property.

(b) Notice.--The proposed ordinance opening or vacating a street or portion of a street must be advertised in a newspaper of general circulation once a week for two successive weeks. On or before the publication of the first advertisement, personal notice must be provided to the owners of a property abutting the street proposed to be opened or vacated. The proposed ordinance must have appended to it or reference a map or survey sufficient to apprise the public of the proposed location, profile and dimensions of the street and must list the names of the owners of a property abutting the street.

(c) Hearing.--Within ten days after the second publication of the notice required under subsection (b), an interested party may petition council for a hearing, which council shall hold within 60 days after the date of the petition. Council shall give at least 15 days' notice of the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation and by personal notice to persons entitled to notice under subsection (b). Council may enact the ordinance no later than 30 days following the date of the hearing or, where no timely petition has been filed, within 30 days of the second publication of the notice required under subsection (b). Within 30 days of the enactment of the ordinance, any party aggrieved by council's action may appeal to the court of common pleas.

Cross References. Section 1731 is referred to in sections 1732, 1733, 1734, 1751 of this title.