2020-07-27-minutes-public-works-study-session

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KITTITAS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT STUDY SESSION DATE: July 27, 2020 TOPIC: Establishment of Thompson Canyon Road ACTION REQUESTED: Direct the County Engineer Prepare Enabling Documents Considering the Establishment of Thompson Canyon Road, MP OA to MP 2.62 LEAD STAFF: Mark R. Cook RECOMMENDATION: Direct the County Engineer schedule a public hearing to gather public testimony regarding the proposed establishment of Thompson Canyon Road. BRIEFING SUMMARY: • Pheasant Lane currently extends beyond a bend in Reecer Creek Road approximately 2.62 miles. • Pheasant Lane provides access to numerous homes. • County Surveyor Turnbull is convinced that Pheasant Lane exists in unopened county right of way. The Public Lands Committee (PLC) is expressing interest in establishing the road onto the County road network, • If established, Public Works (PW) recommends bringing it on system as a Primitive Road. BACKGROUND: During the past several months, the PLC has been anxious to affirm public access via Pheasant Lane. The right of way is historically known as Thompson Canyon Road. DISCUSSION: Unopened County right of way exists throughout Kittitas County. One recent example is Wiehl Road. The Board will recall PW efforts recently improving that right of way to public road status and bringing the road onto the County road network. Confusion over public access is inherent when individuals utilize unopened right of way for home access. It is typical over time for those using the road to discourage other non-users owing to maintenance demands. The clear way establishing public access over unopened County right of way is to establish it onto the public road network. One savvy way to set maintenance expectations is to then designate the existing roadway as "Primitive" Page I of 3 PUBLIC WORKS BOARD OF COUNTY CON IISSIONERS WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT