Polk County board vacates two platted rights-of-way after staff review and utility easements secured

Polk County commissioners on March 4 adopted resolutions to vacate (1) the right-of-way for Florence Avenue in the J.A. Leslie subdivision and (2) portions of platted, unopened and unmaintained rights-of-way within the revised plat of Crooked Lake.

Real-estate staff presented both petitions. The Florence Avenue petition came from Robert Williams Jr., president of Freedom Tour Inc., who asked to vacate an existing county-maintained roadway shown on a 1926 plat; county staff said the petitioner owns three of four adjacent lots, that nearby utility providers raised no objections and that Tampa Electric requested and received an easement for its facilities. Staff recommended the board adopt the resolution to vacate the right-of-way and cease county maintenance responsibilities so adjacent owners could assemble the land.

The Crooked Lake petition was filed by C.B. Myers on behalf of several landowners seeking to vacate portions of plat rights-of-way to allow agricultural use and future development. Staff discovered additional remnant sections not included initially; staff notified additional adjacent owners and obtained consent. Utility providers reviewed the petition and requested easements; Duke Energy requested easements and property owners complied. Staff recommended the board adopt the resolution to vacate rights-of-way as legally described in the petition and resolution. The motions to adopt both resolutions passed by voice vote.

Staff said utility providers were notified, that easements were executed where requested, and that vacating the rights-of-way relieves the county of maintenance responsibilities while allowing adjacent property owners to assemble parcels for their intended uses.

Both items were presented during the consent/public hearing portion and recorded with motions, seconds and voice votes in the transcript.