Council approves partial closing of utility easement at 707 E. Airport Road; waterline easement to follow

Stillwater — On Aug. 18 the Stillwater City Council voted 5-0 to close the north 227.5 feet of a 30-foot-wide general utility easement at 707 East Airport Road, a parcel where a commercial hub is under construction. "The only utility in that easement right now is our city waterline," said David Barth, Development Services, during the council presentation explaining the city intends to accept a narrower, waterline-only easement after the closing and to bring an encroachment agreement that covers canopy and structural supports. Staff told council the existing easement allows any utility to occupy the corridor and that the developer sought to close the northern portion so the developer can locate an awning’s structural supports at the easement edge. City staff said the developer will dedicate a 20-foot easement over the water line and sign an encroachment agreement; the council approved closing the larger easement now and will consider the waterline easement and encroachment agreement at a subsequent meeting. Councilors asked about the order of steps — closing the general easement now and returning later with the waterline easement — and staff said closing the easement does not vacate it; it can be reopened or vacated formally only after related documents are accepted. "The first step is to close this easement, and then we'll come back ... with a waterline only easement and the encroachment agreement," David Barth said. Why it matters: Closing the general utility easement narrows the corridor available for future franchise utilities and clarifies the city's retained access for its water infrastructure, while staff said the dedicated waterline easement and encroachment agreement will preserve operational access for maintenance. Next steps: Staff will return with the 20-foot waterline easement document and an encroachment agreement for council acceptance.