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Wilmar approves right-of-way clarification on Gordon Avenue, sets public hearing for vacation
Summary
The council authorized a settlement clarifying Gordon Avenue right-of-way lines, agreed to pay $5,750 for new easements, and initiated a vacation process with a public hearing scheduled for April 7, 2025.
The Willmar City Council unanimously approved an agreement to clarify right-of-way lines on Gordon Avenue and to pay $5,750 to a property owner for new permanent drainage and utility easements.
Public Works Director Justin _____ (transcript identifies him as Justin, public works director) told the council the action followed a 2023 reconstruction of Gordon Avenue Northwest, when a property owner questioned whether curb and gutter had been placed on private property. Staff found an unrecorded 1990 agreement and negotiated new terms: the city will vacate a portion of the existing right-of-way, the property owner will grant new permanent right-of-way, drainage and utility easements, and the city will pay $5,750 in compensation.
The council also voted to initiate the formal vacation process. Staff asked the council to adopt a resolution calling for a public hearing on April 7, 2025, and to refer the matter to the Planning Commission for review at its March 19 meeting. City staff said the referral is required by the City Charter: "under the city charter section 9.1, after a resolution for vacating right of way is introduced, no further council action will be taken until a report or recommendation is received from the planning commission."
Council members asked whether other adjacent property owners had issues; staff said only the single property owner raised concerns. Both the agreement and the vacation-initiation resolution passed 8-0.
Next steps: staff will record the documents needed to vacate the right-of-way, present the Planning Commission report on March 19, and return to council on April 7 for the public hearing and possible final action.
