Planning commission approves city acceptance of stormwater easement at 12 Lubrano Place

The Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously Feb. 19 to accept a new city stormwater easement through 12 Lubrano Place, a change that follows a developer-led rerouting of a city drainage pipe.

The move shifts an existing drainage route that previously ran through 150 O'Lien to a new pipe installed across 12 Lubrano, and the city will now accept ownership and maintenance responsibility for the relocated pipe. The change was presented by Wilbur Duran, permit engineer for the Department of Public Works.

"We're here today to try to accept this new location of the pipe, through 12 Lubrano, for the city to continue to maintain and own that storm drain," Wilbur Duran said during the meeting. Duran explained that the prior box culvert under 150 O'Lien was deep and difficult for crews to access; the newly installed pipe at 12 Lubrano sits at a shallower elevation and will be easier for municipal crews to maintain.

Commissioners asked about the easement documents and whether the law department had reviewed them; Duran said the developer provided the easement and the city corporation counsel had reviewed and recommended acceptance. After brief discussion and a motion to approve the easement, the commission took a roll-call vote and approved the acceptance.

The commission did not attach additional conditions to the acceptance. City staff said the easement had been prepared by the developer and reviewed by corporation counsel; no further permitting conditions were specified at the hearing.

Votes at a glance: the motion to accept the stormwater easement passed unanimously.

The approved easement will allow the city to access and maintain the storm drain in its new alignment and replaces the older, harder-to-maintain box culvert alignment.