Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Hearing - Public WorksOpen Record Public Hearing Vacation of the Stratford Town Plat (continued from March 30, 2021) (There were WebEx audio issues at this hearing) April 13, 2021 1:30 p.m. In Attendance: Cindy Carter, Chair Danny E. Stone, Vice -Chair Rob Jones, Member Barbara J. Vasquez, Clerk of the board Sam Castro, Public Works Director Sam Dart, Assistant Public Works Director Keith Elefson, County Engineer Brittany Lutz, Public Works Barb O'Neil, Public Works Road Kevin McCrae, Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Damien Hooper, Director of Development Services Public: See attached The Commissioners held an Open Record Public Hearing to. consider the vacation of the Stratford Town Plat Roads and rights -of -ways. Commissioner Carter stated that the public comment was closed at the previous hearing. Commissioner Stone moved to re -open the public comment portion of this hearing, limiting it to 2 min each. Commissioner Jones seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Carter asked the Road Engineer to explain what happens to the road if they are vacated. Keith Elefson, County Engineer, described the vacation being presented stating it would be private road easement with public access. Barb O'Neill, Road Information Services Tech for Public Works, discussed the alley ways being vacated. Members of the public spoke for and against the vacation. Engineer's Report reads as follows: The Board of County Commissioners of Grant County Washington has received a petition to vacate portions of right-of-way being a portion of the Stratford Town Plat roads lying in Section 10, Township 22 N, Range 28 East W.M., all in Grant County, Washington, as shown on the attached Exhibit A. The Board of County Commissioners determined that consideration should be given to the petition and directed the County Road Engineer to prepare a report on the proposed vacation and abandonment for a public hearing to be held at 1.30 PM, Tuesday, the 34th Day of March, 2021. The Notice of Hearing was published in the County Official Newspaper and the Notice of Hearing was posted at each termini in compliance with RCW 36.87.050. The proponents of the petition own the majority of the frontage along the petitioned County Surplus Right-of-way; these roads are not active on the County Road System. The affected parcels are owned by the proponent. Grant County Public Works, with consultation of the Prosecuting Attorney's office, had determined that the Stratford Town Plat roads are unbuilt rights and the dedication is to the Public not the County. No fee title is involved, nor any equitable land rights. Public Works has not made any improvements upon nor maintained any portion of the plat other than Logan Avenue,, AKA Old Stratford Road, which was renamed to 1.7 NE in 2018 when Stratford Road was relocated to the west; and 22.7 NE which is shown as Railroad Avenue.-. / find that this section of public right-of-way is not dedicated to the County for road purposes, and is not necessary and useful to the public and the public would be benefitted by its vacation and abandonment as a reduction in liability and maintenance, with the exception of a 30 foot private road easement for a 20 foot drivable surface that will continued to be maintained by the residents; via RCW58.17.212. Kevin McCrae, Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney stated that he has not been able to review the vacation and believes more time is needed for review. Commissioner Carter stated that if the hearing notice was done wrong, we would need to re -notify everyone involved. And to clarify if it is a plat alteration or just a road vacation. Commissioner Stone moved to continue this hearing to May 4, 2021 at 1:30 pm to allow for notification and review. Commissioner Jones seconded and the motion passed unanimously.