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Commission discusses mapping historic right-of-way widths as tool for future development decisions
Summary
City staff told commissioners the city has scanned historic street books and could assemble a color-coded map of right-of-way widths, but producing a comprehensive map would be a large undertaking and some surveying would still be required for specific projects.
City staff told the Conservation Commission that the city has digitized historic street books and could, in principle, produce a color-coded map showing right-of-way widths (for example, 50-foot vs narrower segments) to help planners and the public see where road widths differ across the city.
Staff cautioned that producing a full, validated right-of-way map would be a considerable effort requiring deed research and, in many cases, new surveys. "We do have all the map books showing the streets," a city staff member said, adding the scanned files can be large and sometimes hard to open. Commissioners noted previous cases where road width and sight-line limitations influenced development decisions (Old Pool Road) and discussed targeted surveying for specific projects rather than a citywide immediate effort.
Members suggested bringing focused cases to staff for mapping and survey work as part of next-stage planning, particularly in growth areas where road width and right-of-way questions will affect development and emergency access.
