HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1750

As Passed House:

March 13, 2001

Title:  An act relating to street vacations.

Brief Description:  Authorizing cities and towns to require full compensation from abutting property owners for street vacations.

Sponsors:  By Representatives Fisher, Mitchell, Simpson, Schindler, Wood, Hurst and Ogden.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Transportation:  3/6/01 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 3/13/01, 93-0.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Abutting property owners petitioning for street vacation must pay the appraised value of the area vacated.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass. Signed by 23 members: Representatives Fisher, Democratic Co‑Chair; Mitchell, Republican Co‑Chair; Cooper, Democratic Vice Chair; Ericksen, Republican Vice Chair; Hankins, Republican Vice Chair; Lovick, Democratic Vice Chair; Anderson, Armstrong, G. Chandler, Hatfield, Hurst, Jackley, Jarrett, Marine, Morell, Murray, Reardon, Rockefeller, Schindler, Simpson, Sump, Wood and Woods.

Staff:  Paul Neal (786‑7315).

Background:

Owners of property that abuts a street or alley may petition to have the street or alley vacated and acquire that portion of the vacated street or alley that abuts their property.  A city or town may also initiate a vacation procedure.  The abutting property owner is required to pay up to one-half the appraised value of the area vacated.

Summary of Bill:

If an abutting property owner acquires a portion of a vacated street or alley, the owner must pay the appraised value of the area vacated.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Allowing cities to sell vacated streets and alleys for their appraised value allows for more responsible management of public assets and avoids a potential gift of public funds.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Randy Lewis, city of Tacoma; and Ashley Probart, Association of Washington Cities.