HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1750

As Amended by the Senate

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.

Senate Amended.

Passed Senate: 4/12/01, 40-6.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Abutting property owners petitioning for street vacation must pay the full appraised value unless the city or town has owned the property for less than 25 years, in which case they must pay half the appraised value.

$Half of the revenue received from vacating street right of way must be used for open space or transportation capital projects within the city or town.

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.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S):

A city or town may only receive the full appraised value for vacated street right-of-way property it has owned for 25 or more years.  For property held less than 25 years, the current limit of one-half the appraised value stays in effect.  Half of the revenue from vacating street right-of-way must be used for open space or transportation capital projects within the city or town.

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.