Bellaire City Council heard from the property owner of 4523 Park Court, who is petitioning for the abandonment of a city easement on his property, during a public hearing on Jan. 3.
The city received a letter from League City residents David England and Karla Medrano England in September, petitioning the city to abandon existing city easements contained within their underdeveloped property at 4523 Park Court. They plan on building a new home on the property.
The easement has an abandoned storm sewer that was installed from the right of way on the 4500 block of Locust Street north to the right of way on Park Court. The storm sewer pipe was abandoned within the past five years and was plugged and left in place. The easement is 1,050 square feet.
England told council during the public hearing that his in-laws purchased the property in 2002 and has been paying taxes on the land since they purchased it.
The England’s are not trying to purchase any additional property from the city; they are seeking the abandonment of the easements that are already on their purchased property.
An appraisal was done on the property and it was found to have a market value of $18,375. England said City Manager Bernie Satterwhite told him that the city may not charge them anything to abandon the easement.
Lynn McBee, an Evergreen Street resident, spoke during the public hearing and said she was not opposed to the city abandoning the easement.
She said she was concerned that the city may charge the property owner for anything since they already own the land and pay taxes on it.
Council wanted to know if the city intends to ever use the storm sewer pipe that was abandoned five years ago.
“We don’t intend to do any side lot drainage again,” Satterwhite said. “It’s not common, it’s not efficient.”
Written comments for the public hearing need to be submitted to City Clerk Tracy Dutton by noon on Thursday, Jan. 13.
Council will deliberate on the abandonment of the easement during its regular meeting on Monday, Jan. 17.
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