Property owner, petitioners and city spar over vacating Schusman Avenue near 39194 SE Park St; council continues hearing to April 28

SNOQUALMIE, Wash. — A contentious public hearing Thursday evening over a petition to vacate public right-of-way adjacent to 39194 Southeast Park Street ended with the City Council continuing the matter to Monday, April 28 at 6 p.m. after more than an hour of testimony and council questions.

The petitioners, represented by in-house counsel Steve Deshazho and outside counsel Dean Williams speaking for NWBF LLC, asked the council to vacate a narrow strip of Schusman Avenue they say was never used for public access and to accept a dedication of other right-of-way related to Park Street. “After 87 years, it is not in the public interest and, in fact, would degrade the public’s trust in government to capitalize on the present situation and compel demolition of this home,” Williams said, asking the city to rule for a vacation or settle the quiet-title dispute rather than risk litigation.

Why it matters: Petitioners say the parcel’s market value has been depressed by the city’s stance and that prior city building permits and surveys show the structure has existed for decades. Petitioners submitted competing appraisals that put the property value in the mid-$500,000s; they said the city’s…