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Committee conditionally approves Broad Street abandonment pending Pepco utility easement agreement
Summary
The committee acknowledged that roughly 4,500 square feet along Broad Street in Bethesda is surplus to public needs and recommended approval of an abandonment petition, but required that the petitioner resolve access and perpetual utility easement issues with Pepco before property transfer.
The Transportation and Environment Committee recommended approval of a petition to abandon about 4,500 square feet of public right of way along the western line of 6401 Broad Street in Bethesda, while requiring an agreement to preserve Pepco access across the site.
MCDOT staff told the committee the parcel currently serves as a gravel driveway, retaining walls and green space adjacent to the applicant’s property. MCDOT concluded the area is not needed for present or anticipated future public use and therefore meets the usual abandonment criteria. The department nonetheless reported an unresolved Pepco utility pole and overhead wire in the abandonment area.
Pepco did not recommend unconditional approval; the utility requested a perpetual utility easement over essentially the entire abandonment area to preserve access for maintenance. According to staff and the draft resolution discussed on Feb. 3, the committee will move forward with approval in principle but with a condition that the petitioner and Pepco reach an agreement that preserves public access to Pepco infrastructure before the county turns the property over to the petitioner.
Committee members voiced support for the staff approach and MCDOT’s amendment requiring Pepco coordination. No roll‑call vote was recorded in the transcript; the chair indicated the amendment and approval were supported without objection.
Next steps include resolution language clarifying the conditional requirement and staff follow‑up to confirm a recorded perpetual utility easement or an acceptable alternative before conveyance.
