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Commission votes to vacate portion of Grass Creek Road for Vista West 1, reserves emergency easement
Summary
After a long public hearing with residents from Vista West 1 and Vista West 3, the commission voted to vacate roads in Vista West 1 while reserving a perpetual county easement for emergency ingress and egress along Grass Creek Road; the decision follows confirmation the county previously accepted dedication in 1995 and extensive public safety and g
The Natrona County Board of Commissioners held a contested public hearing on a petition from Vista West 1 residents to change the status of a narrow segment of Grass Creek Road that sits on the border between Vista West 1 and Vista West 3.
Vista West 1 representatives argued the narrow 20-foot segment at the shared border has generated high-speed ATV/UTV traffic, dust and maintenance burdens; they asked the county to return that segment to private status and allow homeowners associations to control public access (pictures and a gate proposal were provided). Several Vista West 1 speakers said 91% of their HOA members supported privatizing the segment.
Opponents from Vista West 3 and nearby homeowners warned the segment provides a critical alternate egress and emergency route; they emphasized that the county and fire code have for years relied on two-access standards for new subdivisions and that closing the segment could place some residents at risk of isolation if other routes are temporarily blocked. The county fire chief testified he would accept the segment returning to private control only if a county-controlled emergency access (gate with county key/authority) were preserved and maintained so emergency vehicles could enter if needed.
County counsel and the viewerreport established that Vista West 1 previously dedicated roads for public use in 1995. After hearing testimony from both sides and accepting a viewer report, the commission voted to vacate the roads in Vista West 1 but attached a reservation: a perpetual county easement along Grass Creek Road of an appropriate width for emergency ingress and egress as determined by an authorized county official (emergency management / fire district). The motion carried on voice vote.
What this means: the segment will be returned to private control consistent with the petition but the county will retain a perpetual emergency access easement so emergency responders can use that route when authorized. The decision followed legal review and was framed as a compromise balancing neighborhood control of traffic with county responsibility for emergency access.
Ending: The board instructed staff to document the easement terms and work with fire/emergency management on gate protocols and to place details in the county record; residents were reminded of appeal options if either party wishes to pursue further legal action.
