Planning commission backs vacating 0.89-acre right-of-way for proposed storage and retail at E Road

The Grand Junction Planning Commission on Dec. 9 voted unanimously to forward a recommendation of approval to City Council for a request to vacate roughly 0.89 acres of a road book petition right-of-way at 3004 E Road (City file VAC-2025-84).

Staff said the vacation affects the northern 60 feet of Lot 2 and is necessary for the owners of 304 E Road, 42 E Road Storage LLC, to proceed with a proposed retail flex space and mini-storage development adjacent to an existing Dollar General. In correcting the staff report for the record, staff stated the area to be vacated is 0.89 acres (not 0.93) and clarified the correct procedural term is “road book petition” rather than “road proclamation.”

The commission’s recommendation is conditioned on the property owner granting the city a sanitary sewer easement covering 10 feet on either side of the sewer centerline (a minimum 20-foot easement). Staff described that easement area as lying 27 feet south of the north property line and noted the sewer line runs within the portion of right-of-way proposed for vacation. "The request tonight that you are considering is a vacation of 0.89 acres of road book petition right of way," staff told the commission.

A commissioner asked whether the record corrections affected the adequacy of public notice. Jamie Beard, assistant city attorney, responded, "The changes as described are minimal," adding a change from 0.89 to 0.90 would not be significant for notice purposes.

Tom Logue, speaking for the applicant, said the staff presentation and report were thorough and that the applicant had little to add beyond answering any commission questions. No members of the public offered comment during the hearing.

After discussion, a commissioner moved that the planning commission forward a recommendation of approval to City Council with the findings of fact and conditions listed in the staff report; the motion was seconded and passed 6–0. The commission’s action forwards VAC-2025-84 to City Council for final consideration under the city’s approval process.

Other business at the meeting included a commissioner noting a neighbor letter about a potential annexation near Orchard Mesa Pier Park; staff advised forwarding the correspondence for review and cautioned about ex parte communications because an annexation would likely be quasi-judicial. The commission confirmed attendance for its next regular hearing.