Morgantown council approves first reading for gas-line easement at 495 Falling Run Road

Damien Davis, the city’s director of public works and engineering, presented a request for a utility easement across a city-owned parcel at 495 Falling Run Road and said the city acquired the property in 1950. He told council the existing, abandoned gas line cuts across the parcel and “makes the property undevelopable,” and that the proposed new easement would be shifted along the upper property boundary to minimize impacts on a Morgantown Utility Board water main that runs the length of the lot.

Davis said the property’s prior house was demolished and a new house has been built; the owner is awaiting the easement to complete final utility hook-ups. He summarized city staff’s recommendation to move the easement to reduce interference with the eight-inch MUB water line and to limit potential future impacts if repairs are needed.

A councilor described the proposal as “looks pretty straightforward” and “necessary.” After brief discussion the council moved and seconded approval of the ordinance’s first reading. A roll-call vote recorded six yes votes and no dissents; the motion passed.

The action approved only the ordinance’s first reading. The council took no additional amendments on the floor and did not specify a date for second reading during the meeting.

What happens next: the ordinance advances as a first reading under the council’s process; any later formal adoption would be recorded in the minutes for that later action.