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Lakewood staff recommend permitting framework for lake-terminating street-end encroachments
Summary
Staff recommended a two-track, revocable permitting framework modeled on other jurisdictions (Sequim, Chelan, Seattle) to manage lake-terminating right-of-way encroachments, with recorded indemnities and administrative review; council generally supported returning options, including preserving vacation requests in narrow cases.
City staff presented research on street-end and shoreline encroachment programs used in other cities and recommended that Lakewood adopt a structured, administrative permitting framework to manage private uses in lake-terminating public rights-of-way.
The staff presentation described three useful models: Sequim’s administrative right-of-way permits with revocable long-term permits; Chelan’s blended right-of-way and shoreline permit approach; and Seattle’s program, which limits new private encroachments, provides annual permits for preexisting encroachments, charges occupation/lease fees and uses recorded indemnity agreements to strengthen enforcement.
Staff recommended a two-track approach for Lakewood: (1) a stewardship/public-amenity permit (no fee or reduced review) to allow community-led improvements such as seating and landscaping under stewardship agreements, and (2) a revocable right-of-way/encroachment permit or lease for private uses that would include recorded indemnity, insurance, site restoration obligations and an annual occupation/lease fee where appropriate.
Council members discussed keeping the current vacation process (a permanent vacation of right-of-way) as an option in limited circumstances, particularly where an encroaching structure pre-dates incorporation and removing it would be impracticable. Staff will return with draft resolution language, recommended municipal-code amendments and detailed administrative tools for implementation.
Next steps: staff will prepare a draft encroachment-evaluation resolution, sample permit forms, fee recommendations and proposed code changes for council review in a future study session.
