Commissioners decline to proceed with petition to vacate portion of West Drady Street right‑of‑way

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners reviewed a petition from adjacent landowners seeking vacation of a portion of the right‑of‑way for West Drady Street but voted not to proceed with ordering a new county engineer’s report or moving forward with the vacation.

Nut graf: Public Works staff told the board the petition (filed 06/09/2025) had been considered previously, and that an earlier engineer’s report cited utilities in the easement, proximity of water and sewer lines and the potential that vacating could hinder future development. Commissioners said those conditions had not materially changed and declined to advance the petition.

Public Works indicated the petition was accompanied by the bond required under county code. "On 06/09/2025, the Public Works Office received a petition signed by 11 landowners adjoined to West Drady Street," the staff report said. The presenter cited a March 2021 engineer's report that recommended no action then because two utilities are inside the easement and the alignment could be a logical connector for future development.

Commissioners and staff discussed utility locations and emergency access. Public Works recommended that if the county vacates a right‑of‑way, it typically retains an easement for existing utilities only and not for future utilities. "I generally recommend ... that we maintain an easement for existing utilities, access only," the public works presenter said.

Members of the public raised additional details. One petitioner told the board the petition before the commissioners differed from a prior petition and emphasized the vacation request intended to preserve a 20‑foot utility and emergency access easement while vacating other portions. A neighbor and other speakers said the area is a county “donut hole” and urged discussions with the city of Pasco about annexation and long‑term planning.

After discussion, Commissioner Baumann moved to consider the resolution to order an engineer’s report and Commissioner Mullen seconded. Following further discussion and review of prior findings, the board voted not to move the petition forward; the motion to proceed failed and the board instructed staff to pursue interjurisdictional coordination on planning and annexation issues.

Ending: The board did not order a new engineer’s report and declined to vacate the right‑of‑way at this meeting. Staff suggested coordinating with the city of Pasco and advancing countywide planning policy work to address “donut hole” annexation and future development concerns before reconsidering vacations in the area.