HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 6798

As Reported by House Committee On:

Transportation

Title:  An act relating to street vacations.

Brief Description:  Revising provisions relating to street vacations.

Sponsors:  Senators Horn and Gardner.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Transportation:  2/25/02, 2/26/02 [DP].

Brief Summary of Bill

$Authorizes a city or town to charge the full appraised value for vacated right of way if the property was acquired at public expense.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass. Signed by 26 members: Representatives Fisher, Chair; Cooper, Vice Chair; Lovick, Vice Chair; Mitchell, Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Armstrong, Edwards, Ericksen, Haigh, Hankins, Hatfield, Holmquist, Jackley, Jarrett, Mielke, Morell, Murray, Ogden, Reardon, Rockefeller, Romero, Schindler, Simpson, Skinner, Sullivan and Wood.

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.

Prior to the 2001 legislative session, a city or town was limited to charging one-half the appraised value for vacated right of way.  Chapter 202, Laws of 2001, authorized cities or towns to charge up to the full appraised value in some circumstances.

A city or town may only receive the full appraised value for street right of way property if it has been owned by the city for more than 25 years.  For property held less than 25 years, the city or town may receive one‑half of the appraised value.  Half of the revenue from vacating street rights of way must be used for open space or transportation capital projects within the city or town.

Summary of Bill:

A city or town may receive the full appraised value for street right of way property if it has been owned by the city for more than 25 years or the property was acquired at public expense.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

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

Testimony For:  An oversight is corrected in Chapter 202, Laws of 2001, and allows the original intent of the bill to be effectuated.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Ashley Probart, Association of Washington Cities.