Commission backs abandonment of portion of sanitary sewer easement in Stonebridge at 3 Rivers phase 2c

The Planning Commission voted to recommend that the City Council approve the abandonment of a portion of a sanitary sewer easement on property east of Cason Lane in Stonebridge at 3 Rivers phase 2c, subject to conditions including review and approval by the Water Resources Board and final legal review by the citys legal department.

Mr. Donovan, speaking for staff, said the easement at issue was originally recorded in 2007 based on a proposed sewer route but the sewer was later constructed along a different route, leaving the recorded easement unnecessary for that sewer. He said the developer originally requested abandonment earlier and had since added area to the request; the phase 2c subdivision was approved in December 2024 and the original abandonment request received City Council approval in February 2018.

Staff recommended that the commission recommend approval to City Council subject to: Water Resources Board review and approval before Council consideration; the applicant providing necessary information for the citys legal department to prepare quitclaim instruments; and the applicant being responsible for recording the quitclaim deed and paying the recording fee. Mr. Donovan said the Water Resources Board will review the request at its January 28 meeting.

A motion to recommend approval, subject to staff comments, was moved and seconded; recorded votes were all in favor. Commissioners voting "aye" were Ms. Maplewater, Mr. Carroll, Vice Chair Halliburton, Mr. Prince and Mr. Wright. The motion passed.

Per staff, the applicant must submit the legal instruments to the legal department and pay associated recording fees if City Council approves the abandonment.