Council approves two ordinances to vacate utility easements; staff says utilities remain accessible
July 16, 2026 | Hurricane, Washington County, Utah
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The Hurricane City Council approved two ordinances to abandon specified public utility easements after staff said the easements were vestiges of early road dedication plats and are no longer needed for utilities.
City staff (Arthur / S16) told the council these easements were created when roads were dedicated prior to development and that utilities for the arterial and collector streets are typically integrated into rights‑of‑way or routed outside the homeowners’ backyards. After surveying the Dunes neighborhood, staff recommended abandonment where existing walls and utility placements make backyard access practical for homeowners.
Homeowner Jeff Morgan (S10) told the council the easements had prevented a small backyard pool permit and said utilities representatives told him there are no plans to use those easements. The council approved Ordinance 20‑26‑16 (Gateway Boulevard/Jellystone Road easements) and Ordinance 20‑26‑17 (Desert Sands Parkway/Dunes Drive/Sand Hollow Resort Parkway easements). For the first ordinance, the minutes show a roll call with recorded affirmative votes from Amy, Lynn, Joseph and Dave.
Staff said next steps include documenting the changes on plats and advising homeowners that pending permit applications (for example, pools) can proceed once the record reflects the abandonment. The city also noted there may be other parcels that request similar abandonments in the future, and that franchise utility locations were considered before recommending approval.
Council members expressed reluctance about giving up easements but supported the practical outcome given current utility placements. Council members asked whether utilities (including power and communications) were behind the sidewalk in the affected areas; staff responded they were not and that communications and other utilities remain accommodated alongside the roadside.
The ordinances passed at the meeting; staff will coordinate with permit and plat records to ensure homeowners can move forward with permitted improvements.
City staff (Arthur / S16) told the council these easements were created when roads were dedicated prior to development and that utilities for the arterial and collector streets are typically integrated into rights‑of‑way or routed outside the homeowners’ backyards. After surveying the Dunes neighborhood, staff recommended abandonment where existing walls and utility placements make backyard access practical for homeowners.
Homeowner Jeff Morgan (S10) told the council the easements had prevented a small backyard pool permit and said utilities representatives told him there are no plans to use those easements. The council approved Ordinance 20‑26‑16 (Gateway Boulevard/Jellystone Road easements) and Ordinance 20‑26‑17 (Desert Sands Parkway/Dunes Drive/Sand Hollow Resort Parkway easements). For the first ordinance, the minutes show a roll call with recorded affirmative votes from Amy, Lynn, Joseph and Dave.
Staff said next steps include documenting the changes on plats and advising homeowners that pending permit applications (for example, pools) can proceed once the record reflects the abandonment. The city also noted there may be other parcels that request similar abandonments in the future, and that franchise utility locations were considered before recommending approval.
Council members expressed reluctance about giving up easements but supported the practical outcome given current utility placements. Council members asked whether utilities (including power and communications) were behind the sidewalk in the affected areas; staff responded they were not and that communications and other utilities remain accommodated alongside the roadside.
The ordinances passed at the meeting; staff will coordinate with permit and plat records to ensure homeowners can move forward with permitted improvements.
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