Planning commission approves vacation of utility easement under Augusta Middle School

Sam, the city planner, told commissioners that while reviewing building plans for an addition to Augusta Middle School staff discovered a 1970 document reserving an easement under the school and the proposed addition. "During the review of building plans for the addition to Augusta Middle School, staff identified that a utility easement existed under both the school and the proposed building addition," Sam said.

Staff said the easement language dated to a 1970 alley vacation but retained rights for city utilities and gas-service access. The district submitted an application for an easement vacation on Nov. 20, and staff issued a conditional authorization letter on Nov. 24 to allow work to begin while the vacation is processed. Sam told the commission that the utilities in question primarily serve the school and that, if vacated, affected lines would be turned over to the school as private lines. Sam also said the city contacted the gas utility, which indicated it had no active infrastructure in the easement and provided a letter allowing staff to proceed.

Speaker 1 opened and then closed a public hearing with no public testimony. Staff recommended approval and noted the item "will go to the city council for final approval on February 2." Speaker 5 moved to approve case number 2025-23 (vacation of utility easement at the northwest intersection of North State Street and West Clark Avenue); Speaker 3 seconded and the commission approved the motion by voice vote.

The vote authorizes staff to proceed with the easement vacation process and forwards the matter to the city council for final action on the date stated by staff. The commission recorded no public opposition in the hearing and no subsequent conditions were recorded in the transcript.