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Board backs code change to streamline vacation of small public easements, citing lowered cost and time
Summary
Staff presented amendments to Division 3 of the city code to simplify vacations of minor public easements and encroachments; the Planning and Advisory Board recommended the draft ordinance, noting it reduces applicant expense and avoids unnecessary board hearings.
City planning staff (speaker 2) presented a draft amendment to Division 3 of the city code that would streamline the process for vacating public streets, alleys and easements in narrow, limited circumstances. The proposed change would permit certain small, non-movable encroachments to be handled with a shorter process that goes directly to City Council rather than repeating a longer, more expensive process through multiple hearings.
Staff said the previous process frequently cost applicants nearly $1,000 in fees and mailings and required certified mail notifications and Board of Adjustment reviews; the draft reduces that burden for qualifying cases while preserving checks and balances for larger or more complex vacations. “What we propose to do is to add section 2 to the code, leaving the existing vacation of easement process for the larger issues … it shortens the whole process immensely,” the staff member said (speaker 2).
Board members asked whether utilities and other agencies would still be noticed; staff confirmed the same utility and agency clearances are still required, but that the public-notice and hearing steps would be simplified for narrow cases. The board voted to recommend approval of the draft amendment; the chair recorded that the motion passed.
