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Committee forwards PBOT plan to vacate unnamed road and sell parcel to adjoining business, preserves trail and sewer easements
Summary
Finance Committee moved two related items to full council: vacating an unnamed road (returning title to the city), and declaring the vacated property surplus for sale to WPC Marine LLC, subject to a 30‑foot trail easement and a 20‑foot sewer easement. The 40 Mile Loop Land Trust raised design and timing questions for the future trail connection.
The Finance Committee voted Sept. 22 to forward to full council two linked PBOT actions: (1) vacate an unnamed road off NE 303rd Drive/Northeast Marine Drive and (2) declare the vacated land surplus and approve the sale to the adjacent owner, WPC Marine LLC, subject to conditions.
Kevin Balick of PBOT’s real property group summarized the protracted ownership history: the parcel had been mapped as a public street while under Multnomah County title in the 1980s but the county never constructed the planned turn lanes. Title transferred to the city in 2019 and PBOT has determined the right‑of‑way is no longer needed for street purposes.
PBOT proposes to sell the 48,219‑square‑foot parcel to WPC Marine LLC (the adjacent owner) under the city’s surplus procedure (ADM 13022 A.4 referenced in the presentation). Conditions negotiated for the sale include (a) the buyer granting the city a 30‑foot‑wide trail easement along the southern edge of the buyer’s parcel to enable a future extension of the Marine Drive segment of the 40‑Mile Loop, and (b) the city reserving a 20‑foot sewer easement over an existing 36‑inch pressurized sewer main.
PBOT said the price (net to the city) is $310,000, discounted to reflect the encumbrances described above; the sale will also return the parcel to the property tax rolls. The committee heard questions about how the trail easement will connect to existing city property on the east side of NE 303rd Drive and whether short segments would be left as “orphan” pieces if the private owner delays constructing a connection.
Walter Valenta of the 40 Mile Loop Land Trust testified at the meeting, saying the group supports the easement location but requested clarity on (1) the detailed alignment where the easement meets the city‑owned right‑of‑way, (2) whether the easement‑granting owner or the city will construct the trail segment and when, and (3) whether the small connector segment to the city property will be funded or become a future local budget fight.
The committee forwarded both the street vacation and the surplus sale to full council with due‑pass recommendations. Roll call recorded ayes from Councilor Nick Green; Councilor Amanda Avalos; Vice Chair Protogany; and Chair Zimmerman.
Next steps: The items will return to full council for final approval. PBOT told committee members no other city bureaus claimed interest during the surplus process, and staff said they will continue outreach to trail advocates and property owners as the project advances.
