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Residents press Loudon City Council over disputed Blair Lane right-of-way; council to review deeds
Summary
Residents Brent Watson and Thomas Blair told the city council that a 100-foot right-of-way shown in a warranty deed dating to 1980 and referenced in a 2011 ordinance appears to have been mapped to a third party, leaving two parcels effectively landlocked; the city attorney said no ownership transfer has occurred and council will review submitted
Brent Watson and family members urged Loudon City Council to review property records after they said a 100-foot right-of-way referenced in a warranty deed and a 2011 ordinance has been treated as if it were mapped to another party, affecting access to two family parcels.
Watson told the council that the right-of-way near Blair Lane has been ‘‘given to Frenia’’ on the tax map and described earlier deeds and surveys that, he said, show a dedicated 100-foot road right-of-way tied to the property. He said the mapping issue has prevented two sales and forced the return of earnest money on at least one contract.
City Attorney Chris responded during the citizens-input portion that the city has taken no change-of-ownership action: “there's been no change of ownership of of any property,” he said. Chris added that an ordinance (referenced by Watson as “20 11 dash 12”) appeared intended to dedicate the gravel or asphalt portion of the existing road and to name it Blair Lane; he said the assessor’s mapping work will be reviewed further to resolve a mapping discrepancy.
Mayor Jeff Harris told the speakers the council would take the provided paperwork and review the matter. Watson and other family members handed the council signed copies of a warranty deed, a 1998 survey and other materials. Watson said an out-of-town real estate attorney also reviewed some documents for the family and that the survey page includes coordinates and descriptive language referencing the right-of-way.
Council did not take formal action at the meeting. Mayor Harris and staff said they would review the submitted documents and follow up; no timeline was given.
Why it matters Watson said the mapping discrepancy has practical consequences: he said two previous sales fell through because prospective buyers were informed they lacked legal access. He said one contract required returning the buyer’s earnest money; another buyer also backed out for the same reason.
What the record shows - Citizen speaker: Brent Watson (spoke on behalf of family property owners) presented copies of a signed warranty deed and a survey he said dates to 1998; he said original deed language from 1980 references a public right-of-way and that an ordinance in 2011 dedicated the road as Blair Lane. - City response: City Attorney Chris said the city has not changed ownership of any property and that the assessor’s mapping apparently recorded the road in a way that needs further review. Mayor Harris said staff would look at the submitted paperwork.
Next steps The council did not vote on the matter. Staff and the city attorney indicated they will examine the documents that residents provided and coordinate with the property assessor; the council asked residents to provide any additional materials they have.
Speakers quoted in this article spoke during the citizens-input portion of the Sept. 22 meeting.
