Committee sets public hearing on vacating excess right-of-way along former 20 Eighth Avenue corridor

The committee approved a preliminary resolution directing staff to set a public hearing to consider vacating excess right-of-way along the former 20 Eighth Avenue corridor.

City staff said Marathon County had purchased multiple parcels and dedicated them as right-of-way for a realignment that would have routed 20 Eighth Avenue west to Thirtieth Avenue. County and city officials later decided to reconstruct 20 Eighth Avenue on its existing alignment, making the previously acquired right-of-way unnecessary. City staff explained that, if vacated, the right-of-way would revert to Marathon County because it had purchased the parcels, and the county intends to dispose of or sell the parcels for redevelopment.

Alder Neal raised questions about which parcels would be affected and whether the land would remain in the city; staff confirmed the land would remain within the City of Wausau but ownership would revert to the county. The resolution approved by the committee is the procedural first step to set a public hearing; staff said a detailed map would be provided at the hearing showing specific parcels proposed for vacation.

A motion to set the public hearing was made and seconded; the committee voted in favor and the chair said the measure passed. Staff stressed that the public hearing would return to the Infrastructure & Facilities Committee and that the county would likely subdivide and sell the parcels afterward.

Staff noted the county had purchased and removed buildings from some lots with the expectation of road construction; vacating right-of-way would allow those lots to be returned to taxable redevelopment.

No final disposition of the parcels occurred at the meeting; the action sets the public hearing schedule and directs staff to prepare the detailed maps and notice.