Council adopts resolution to vacate portion of sanitary sewer main easement in industrial area
July 28, 2025 | Chehalis City, Lewis County, Washington
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Chehalis — The City Council adopted Resolution No. 18-2025 on July 28 to vacate and release a portion of a sanitary sewer main easement located south of Rush Road in the industrial park.
City staff explained the easement was recorded in 1996 between the port and city for a potential sanitary sewer main and a planned cul-de-sac that was never developed. Staff said recent real-estate transactions and a preliminary development application indicate the planned cul-de-sac and the easement area at the east side of the site are no longer needed for the proposed development. During the public hearing staff noted, “to the best of staff knowledge” there are no underground sewer improvements in the easement—searched using camera and ground-penetrating methods—and that any future required infrastructure would be development-driven and paid for by the developer.
The council opened a public hearing, accepted no public comments, closed the hearing and then moved to adopt the resolution declaring the easement surplus and releasing it. One councilmember asked whether a future buyer’s different plans would require the easement to be reinstated; staff answered that if new utilities are required later, the improvements would be borne by the developer and might be located elsewhere on the property.
Legal basis: staff cited the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) provisions that allow a legislative body to declare utility easements surplus after a hearing and convey or otherwise dispose of such property. Resolution No. 18-2025 implements that authority in this case.
The council voted in favor and the resolution passed by voice vote.
City staff explained the easement was recorded in 1996 between the port and city for a potential sanitary sewer main and a planned cul-de-sac that was never developed. Staff said recent real-estate transactions and a preliminary development application indicate the planned cul-de-sac and the easement area at the east side of the site are no longer needed for the proposed development. During the public hearing staff noted, “to the best of staff knowledge” there are no underground sewer improvements in the easement—searched using camera and ground-penetrating methods—and that any future required infrastructure would be development-driven and paid for by the developer.
The council opened a public hearing, accepted no public comments, closed the hearing and then moved to adopt the resolution declaring the easement surplus and releasing it. One councilmember asked whether a future buyer’s different plans would require the easement to be reinstated; staff answered that if new utilities are required later, the improvements would be borne by the developer and might be located elsewhere on the property.
Legal basis: staff cited the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) provisions that allow a legislative body to declare utility easements surplus after a hearing and convey or otherwise dispose of such property. Resolution No. 18-2025 implements that authority in this case.
The council voted in favor and the resolution passed by voice vote.
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