ITEM TITLE:
Approve a Recommendation to City Council to Grant a 15ft Wide and 265ft Long Access Easement on City of Valdez-owned Tract C, ASLS 79-118.
SUBMITTED BY: Paul Nylund, Senior Planner
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: N/A
Unencumbered Balance: N/A
Funding Source: N/A
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve a recommendation to City Council to grant a 15ft wide and 265ft long access easement on City of Valdez-owned Tract C, ASLS 79-118.
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
On October 9th, 2017 the Community Development department received a letter requesting an easement from the City to CVEA. The requested easement would be 15’ wide and 265’ long, on City of Valdez-owned Tract C, ASLS 79-118. This parcel is located near the Alyeska Marine Terminal, off of Dayville road.
Copper Valley Electric Association has built an access/maintenance road which provides access to its power generation operation at Allison Creek. The already constructed road encroaches onto Tract C, ASLS 79-118, which is owned by the City of Valdez.
This authorization is consistent with VMC Section 13.5. Public Utility Franchises. “The city may grant a franchise to any person for the use of the streets, alleys, bridges, easements and other public places of the city for the furnishing of any public utility service to the city and its inhabitants.”
The City has the authority to establish such an easement as stated by VMC 16.24.070 Dedication-Utility easements. Which states: “The platting authority may require the dedication of utility easements when a utility company or the city demonstrates a specific need for them.”
This action is consistent with the City of Valdez Comprehensive Development plan, which states: “The (Community and Economic Development) Department is responsible for the orderly and efficient growth and development of the City's socioeconomic and physical systems.” (Valdez Comprehensive Development Plan, pg. 33)
If the Planning and Zoning Commission approves this recommendation to Council, and Council votes in favor of the authorization, the utility easement will be granted via resolution and the easement will be recorded to the plat, and CVEA will cover all the costs.