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Coos Bay council enacts ordinance vacating portion of Date Avenue in exchange for public access land
Summary
Council enacted Ordinance No. 577 to vacate a portion of Date Avenue east of North Front Street, contingent on a deeded public‑access area and preserving public trust rights; the International Port of Coos Bay and Oregon Department of State Lands reviewed the application and raised standard public‑access language.
The Coos Bay City Council enacted an ordinance (No. 577) to vacate a portion of Date Avenue east of North Front Street, following a public hearing and staff presentation that described the exchange and conditions to preserve public access to the bay.
Staff said the right‑of‑way under request is unlikely to be developed as a public street because of topography and that city departments and local utilities had no objections. Because the vacation site lies within 1,000 feet of the shoreline, staff solicited input from the International Port of Coos Bay and the Oregon Department of State Lands. The state agency requested language be added to preserve the state’s rights to submerged and submersible lands and the public’s rights for navigation, commerce, fisheries and recreation.
Staff explained the vacation would be subject to an agreement in which the property owner (Soss Brothers Inc./Heidi Soss, referenced in the staff report) would convey to the city a 60‑foot northern parcel to maintain public access to the bay, and that the map demonstrated the trade parcel and the area to be vacated. One citizen comment opposed the vacation on public‑access grounds; staff said it had reached out to that individual to discuss the proposed access easement.
Council discussion focused on trade details and the potential to enhance public amenities (walkway, kayak launch) while preserving historic pilings. Councilor Kilmer asked whether permitted improvements (e.g., kayak launch) would be possible; staff replied that appropriate state and federal permits would be required. A motion to enact the ordinance passed on roll call; council recorded 'Aye' votes and the ordinance was duly enacted.
What’s next: staff will record the deed exchange and work with state and port agencies to ensure the required public‑access easement language is included in the ordinance and transfer documents.
