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Franklin County approves vacation of Road 60 turnaround easement, retains gas‑utility easement
Summary
After a public hearing, the county approved Resolution 2025-073 to vacate a remainder hammerhead turnaround easement on Road 60 adjacent to 3 Rivers, while retaining an easement to allow Cascade Natural Gas to maintain a gas line.
The Franklin County Board of Commissioners approved Resolution 2025-073 on Feb. 19 to vacate a leftover hammerhead turnaround easement adjacent to Road 60 and 3 Rivers, finding the turnaround was no longer necessary and that surrounding parcels retain legal access.
Public Works staff said the county received a petition on Jan. 7 to vacate the turnaround, accompanied by the required bond, and the board set a public hearing for Feb. 19. Public Works staff recommended approval and noted that Charter Communications and Franklin PUD raised no objections. Cascade Natural Gas informed the county it has a gas line within the easement; staff recommended preserving a utility easement for construction, repair and maintenance of that existing gas line.
Key details and legal references - The underlying short plat was recorded Jan. 19, 1995, and included a 50‑foot hammerhead turnaround that staff said has become unnecessary after full intersection improvements to Road 60. Public Works recommended finding the turnaround easement “useless to the public road system.” - Staff recommended retaining a utility easement for existing utilities (cascade natural gas) pursuant to RCW 36.87.14 and noted the vacate requires unanimous board approval under county code chapter 12.0801. - The petition cost to record the vacation was listed as $1,063.91, to be paid before recording.
Public comment and commissioner discussion No members of the public spoke against the vacation at the hearing. Commissioners questioned whether the gas line should be relocated into the public utility easement; staff said Cascade Natural Gas had not specified the precise location within the vacated area but that the retained easement would permit access for future maintenance while still allowing property‑owner use of the land.
Vote and implementation A motion to adopt Resolution 2025-073 passed by unanimous vote. The resolution directs recording of the vacate upon receipt of the stated fee and retains the county’s easement for maintenance of existing utilities. Staff listed RCW 36.87.0.07 and RCW 36.87.14 and county code chapter 12.0801 in the hearing presentation and recommendation.
Ending Public Works will record the vacation once the applicant pays the stated recording cost. Commissioners closed the hearing and moved on to other agenda business.
