Property owner asks court to abandon platted streets in dissolved town of Lawrence; county tables request

A property owner and her realtor asked Kaufman County commissioners on Jan. 13 to abandon streets and alleyways platted in the dissolved town of Lawrence that cut through a parcel at 11827 FM 1392 in Terrell.

Sarah Thomas, a Century 21 realtor representing owner Adam Murillo, told the court that the platted roads bisect the property and make it difficult to sell or obtain conventional financing with a clear title. "We're requesting that those streets and alleyways be abandoned," Thomas said.

County legal counsel explained that the Transportation Code governs abandonment of county roads and described the typical process: the county treats the feature as an abandoned roadway that reverted to the county when the town never materialized, and the county requires affidavits from adjacent property owners who might assert liability. Counsel also flagged ownership concerns for a parcel directly behind the easement that might rely on the easement for access and suggested Development Services mediate and work through language barriers with neighbors before the court could act.

Commissioners scheduled follow-up meetings with Development Services, the property owner, and the affected neighbors to attempt resolution and voted to table the abandonment request until those discussions can occur.

The court did not take final action on the abandonment at the Jan. 13 session; staff and counsel will continue to work with the owner and adjacent property owners to gather affidavits and clarify whether a statutory road-closing process can proceed.