Commissioners direct paving through parking lot to preserve access on Blue Lake Road

Washington County commissioners discussed the scope of a Blue Lake Road overlay and directed staff to extend paving through an existing parking lot to the rear portion of a parcel in order to preserve public access for adjoining property owners.

Why it matters: Completing the paved surface to the historically maintained end point preserves vehicle access to properties behind the parking area and reduces the risk of access disputes should the board choose to stop paving earlier.

Staff briefed the board that county records and the parcel legal descriptions reference a county right-of-way and that historical county paving extended to the same back portion of the property; staff said it is used as a public road to that point. Commissioners discussed the option of stopping the paving at the front of the parking lot and closing the road beyond that point, but the board’s direction favored extending pavement through the parking lot to the back to avoid access loss for Brown family property owners and others.

A motion to proceed with the paving approach that preserves access carried. Staff said they had contacted the church and property owners and found no additional documentary evidence to contradict the county’s record that a county road extends to the rear portion.

Ending: Staff will proceed with project planning consistent with the board’s direction to pave through the parking lot to the county-maintained end point and will coordinate any required property or access notices.