The City of Watertown Planning Commission voted to approve a petition to vacate a portion of Fourth Street Southeast that has been functionally used as private property by a concrete company.

City staff told the commission the gravel right-of-way is effectively abandoned and that the petitioners — current and recent owners of the adjacent property — requested the vacation to clean up property lines and formalize existing use. Staff said drainage and utility easements will be retained and that the city is coordinating with the fire marshal to preserve a turnaround and hydrant access.

Liam (city staff) described the site and easements and said the city “has no use to have that right of way.” He told the commission staff is working with property owners, the fire department, engineering and utilities to ensure “we have the sufficient easements that we need.” He noted the drainage easement will be retained on the west side and that utility easements will be shown for existing gas lines.

Chris Jacobson, area manager for the concrete company, told the commission the road has “basically been abandoned” and that trucks and business activity make public access a safety and liability concern. Jacobson said the company will “work with the fire marshal to give them their turnaround access” and then barricade or sign the southern access to limit unauthorized traffic.

Neighbor Phyllis Wiles, who identified herself as a property owner adjacent to the site, said she is “not against” the vacation but asked the commission to consider additional access for several nearby businesses. Commissioners and staff responded that any new access to U.S. Highway 81/State Highway 212 would require approval from the South Dakota Department of Transportation and that reopening or creating a new public right of way would be a separate process requiring petitions from adjoining property owners.

Commissioner Dolly moved to approve the vacation as presented; Commissioner Bonnie Aletzky seconded. The commission called the voice vote; all present said “Aye” and the motion passed. Staff said the vacated land will be put back on the tax roll as private property and that the owners will replat the resulting lot to show the retained easements.

The action reserves a drainage easement, utility easements for existing services, and space for a fire-department turnaround tied to an on-site hydrant. Staff said any future need to reestablish public right of way would require petitions from adjoining property owners and, where state highway access is involved, DOT approval.