The City of Auburn has determined that a portion of right-of-way of M Street NW, north of 15th Street NW and a portion of right-of-way of 29th Street NW, east of M Street NW (ROW Vacation Area) are no longer required to meet the needs of the City. In addition, the rights-of-way have been used for illegal parking, litter dumping and vandalism which the City is continually responsible for addressing. Therefore, a public hearing is requested to consider the vacation of said right-of-way.
On January 18, 2022, City Council adopted Ordinance No. 6847 that modified Chapter 10.28 of the Auburn City Code to restrict the proposed ROW Vacation Area to all vehicular and non-vehicular traffic except for the purpose of accessing utilities and properties by their owners and authorized guests in order to address illegal dumping issues. Subsequently, a locked gate was installed across M Street NW to limit access to the proposed ROW Vacation Area.
The proposed ROW Vacation Area of M Street NW became ROW when it was acquired by the State for the construction of SR-167 in 1969. This area was subsequently conveyed to the City of Auburn from the State through Governor’s Deed in 1974. The north 30 feet of the proposed ROW Vacation area of 29th Street NW was dedicated as a public street by the Plat of Christopher Garden Tracts in 1919. The south 20 feet of the proposed ROW Vacation Area of 29th Street NW was acquired by King County as right-of-way sometime between 1889 and 1919.
City staff, utility providers, and abutting property owners who have an interest in this right-of-way have reviewed the proposed right-of-way vacation. Through this review, City staff has determined that the right-of-way is no longer necessary to meet the needs of the City and could be vacated.
Resolution No. 5655, if adopted by City Council, sets the date of the public hearing for Right-of-Way Vacation No. VAC21-0003 for June 21, 2022. |